BUYERS NOT PUT OFF BY DRUG LORD'S HOUSE

Clashnacree House in Sneem, Co. Kerry, may have been owned by a Dutch drug lord but that hasn't keep prospective buyers away from the pounds 1m mansion.

In fact, a number of people have already made approaches to the Criminal Assets Bureau seeking to buy it, senior gardai revealed last night.

On foot of a High Court ruling last week, the way has now been cleared for the sale of the period 19th century mansion, on 20 acres of land by Parknasilla golf club and hotel on Kerry's Gold Coast.

An estate agent has just been appointed to handle the auction of the property, complete with tennis court, swimming pool, grounds and outbuildings.

CAB sources confirmed that hopeful buyers had contacted them asking about how the house and land would be sold.

Clashnacree House, at Derryquinn near Sneem is to be sold by Maurice Cohalan of Cohalan Downing Associates on October 25.

While Mr Cohalan wouldn't be drawn on a value and would only say a reserve would be set closer to the auction, it is likely that the property will sell for over pounds 750,000 and possibly closer to pounds 1 million. Two years ago, a prime large estate Reen na Furrerira on several hundred seaside acres nearby sold for pounds 3 million.

However, Clashnacree has largely been neglected in the past nine years of ownership by convicted Dutch drug trafficker Jan Hendrick Ljpelaar who bought it in 1992 for pounds 300,000. Since he moved out, damp crept in, ivies scrambled over the walls and even the window panes, the remote control gates no longer work and the CCTV camera stares blindly over those CAB padlocked entrance gates just off the Ring of Kerry.

The six bedroomed Victorian house needs renovation and a cash injection to bring back to sparkling order.