Police find €60,000 stashed in mansion of former IRA hunger striker Tom McFeely

Another 60,000 euro has been discovered stashed in the former home of one-time IRA hunger striker-turned-property tycoon (GETTY IMAGES)

Another €60,000 (£50,435) has been discovered stashed in the former home of one-time IRA hunger striker-turned-property tycoon.

Police in Ireland recovered the wad of notes in a property repossessed from bankrupt-billionaire Tom McFeely, just days after a plumber discovered 140,000 euro (£117,652) hidden under a bath.

A Garda source confirmed the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) ordered a fingertip search of the mansion on the affluent Ailesbury Road in Ballsbridge, south Dublin, following Friday's find.

It is understood the latest haul, which was made up of 50 euro notes wrapped in rubber bands and plastic bags, was also found in the bathroom.

The money will remain in a bank account under the control of an official assignee appointed by the High Court until a legitimate owner has been identified.

McFeely served 12 years in the Maze Prison for shooting an RUC officer in Derry and spent 53 days without food during the 1980 hunger strikes.

But he has remained in the media spotlight over the years - most recently having been embroiled in a court case involving the controversial Priory Hall development in Donaghmede, north Dublin.

Some 65 families were forced to move out of the complex in October 2011 after experts deemed it a fire hazard and a string of construction defects were found.

Fiachra Daly, a former resident, took his own life in July. His partner Stephanie Meehan has said he had been under stress following the evacuation from their home.

McFeely, originally from Londonderry, avoided going back behind bars last July after successfully overturning a contempt of court judgment.

The developer appealed against a judgment that he broke court orders.

He had been ordered by the High Court in Dublin to carry out remedial works at Priory Hall, but was sentenced and fined when he did not.

Barristers for Mr McFeely appealed it was impossible for their client to comply with orders because he had been evicted from the site.

The state's bad bank, the National Assets Management Agency (Nama), repossessed McFeely's Ballsbridge mansion after he was declared bankrupt last summer.

It was placed on the market at three million euro (£2.5 million) - just a fraction of previous valuations of around 15 million euro (£12.6 million).

The house was sold and renovations are now under way.

McFeely has claimed in the past that he has bank debts in excess of 200 million euro (£168 million).

PA