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High Court judge allows 18‑month old stay on sale of veteran gangland criminal's home to give him time to obtain legal representation and file appeal documents before the house could be repossessed by the tax authority Cab.
Short extension granted until Friday to allow veteran gangland criminal to seek new legal representation Martin The Viper Foley, a figure well known in Ireland's underworld, was seen today walking into the High Court in Dublin where he is contesting a repossession order from the revenue authority known as Cab.
The case centers on his home on Cashel Avenue in Kimmage, a property that Cab has seized in an effort to satisfy an outstanding tax bill of nearly one million euros. Following a decision in March 2025, the judge imposed an 18‑month stay on the sale of the house, a protective measure aimed at preventing the disappearance of the property while Foley's wife and nine‑year‑old daughter continued to live there.
During a hearing earlier this month, a High Court judge granted Foley a brief extension on the stay, pushing the deadline to Friday, to give the criminal a window in which to secure new legal counsel. The judge also provided additional time for Foley to file an application for a permanent stay pending the outcome of his appeal concerning the sale order.
Foley, accompanied by his spouse, explained that his previous solicitor had recently passed away and that he has been representing himself during the proceedings. When questioned, Foley stressed that he was not trying to stall the court system but rather needed sufficient time to submit the necessary documents to Cab and to induce the court to hear his appeal before the sale could potentially occur.
The judge recognised the gravity of the situation, noting that permitting the sale before an appeal could be heard would create a "serious risk" of permanent prejudice against Foley and his family. The current legal battle traces back more than a decade. The house in question was originally registered in the name of Foley and his late wife, Pauline, and the tax authorities had sought to collect on a debt that remained unresolved after Pauline's death.
Foley's second wife, Sonya, now asserts that she is entitled to at least half of the property's equity and that a forced sale would render both her and their daughter homeless. In his affidavit, Foley reiterated that his family home has long been his primary residence and that the potential forfeiture of the property prior to the appeal hearing could "make the decision impossible to reverse.
" A High Court judge had previously declined an ex‑parte motion to prevent Cab from executing the repossession order, but allowed Foley a short notice of stay to proceed with his legal relief. The case underscores a rare legal victory for a presumed felon and lends a human face to a dispute that frequently revolves around bureaucratic mechanics more than the inhabitants of the seized property.
While Foley's legal team will now have the next few days to prepare a robust appeal, the continued misuse of the property by Cab remains a pressing issue. The broader legal implications of the case mean that similar situations may see increased scrutiny over the balance between tax collection procedures and the rights of private homeowners, even if those owners are suspected of serious criminal activity.
Judicial authorities undoubtedly want to ensure that any intent to acquire a property from a person whose reputation is severely tarnished does not bypass due process. The Court's decision to grant a short extension prioritizes fairness and the rights of the parties involved.
As the proceedings resume, observers should closely study how the legal systems manage cases that cross sectors, from criminal law to civil estates, which may provide vital precedent for future cases involving high‑profile defendants with real estate assets under legal contestation
High Court Gangland Criminal Property Seizure Tax Authority Legal Representation
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