Father of Celebrity Big Brother star Hughie Maughan targeted in garda raid

He also told how property was seized as part of the raid — but it was returned to him this week.

Hughie Maughan Snr (52) was in court this week, when he successfully applied to have the property seized in the raid returned to him after a Garda failed to turn up to contest the case.

“All I want is justice. I won my case,” Mr Maughan told the Sunday World outside the court.

“The last conviction I had was was for a parking ticket.”

Mr Maughan, from St Margaret’s Park in Ballymun, Dublin, is the father of Big Brother star Hughie Jnr.

He said vehicles and a number of other items were seized in the raid earlier this year.

“The guards came and raided my place last February — they took my van and my son’s motor and other stuff,” he said.

Asked why the raid took place, he said: “I cant go into that. Perhaps someone said something about me [which led to the raid]. I forgive those people who said it.”

Mr Maughan Snr has raised tens of thousands for various charities competing in marathons and other sporting events such as Iron Man competitions in Ireland and around the globe in places including New York, London, Paris and Berlin.

He also won Traveller sportsman of the year at Traveller Pride Awards a number of years ago and said he needed his van for his sporting activities.

He told the Sunday World he has a good relationship with gardai and it is understood he has not been charged with any offence in relation to the raids

“I raise money for cancer and I wore a shirt [in honour] of a garda dying of cancer when I did the New York Marathon.”

He said being targeted in the raid upset him, as he wasn’t a criminal.

“It really me hurt me inside. For all the good I did, you can make one little mistake [and it takes away from the good].”

Mr Maughan Snr represented himself at the court hearing, where the judge noted he had previously been before the courts looking for the items to be returned and that it had been adjourned until this week, when the garda involved failed to show up.

Another officer tried to have the matter adjourned again but Mr Maughan said: “I’ve been here four times. This is my van. I need my van for sport, I do cycling.”

He said the garda involved spoke to him on the phone this week and said he wouldn’t be in court.

“[The guard] told me on the phone ‘that’s the end of it, you’re getting your stuff back’.”

After hearing from Mr Maughan, Judge Michelle Finan said: “I’m going to grant the application.”

Mr Maughan was then told: “You won, it’s granted. Well done.”

He thanked the judge and said he was watching her in earlier cases and found her very fair.

“Thanks your honour for everything. Never change. You’re a very fair person you are. Bless you.”

His reality TV star son Hughie Jnr was arrested earlier this year over a brawl in Blanchardstown, Dublin, but later released without charge.

He recently gave an interview saying a video of the incident was “taken out of context”.

“I’m not a violent person or a person who gets into fights,” he told a newspaper earlier this year.

He said he felt he had hit rock bottom after being arrested following a fight outside the pub.

He said he had been put on medication for ADHD and Asperger’s just before the incident in March.

“I had only started taking the medication and had been warned that I would suffer side effects in the first two weeks, especially if you drink,” he said.

“That’s what happened. I didn’t know what I was doing. Why else would I have been getting into a row in front of a garda?

“I can’t believe I put myself in such a vulnerable position.”

He said he has had to endure a lifetime of provocation for being a gay person in the Travelling community.