THREE YEARS FOR MAN FOUND WITH ALMOST A MILLION IN CAMPER VAN

A MAN who had pleaded guilty to the money laundering of €911,600 has been sentenced to three years in prison.

Bernard Joyce of Newtown, Beauparc, Slane, Co. Meath, appeared before Judge Cormac Quinn at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court. The 45-year-old pleaded guilty under the money laundering act to possessing €911,600, which may have been the proceeds of criminal conduct, at Arnestown, Foulksmills, Co. Wexford, on September 22, 2018.

Det. Garda Stephen Burke told the court that Joyce had been arraigned on April 30, 2019, and entered a guilty plea.

Det. Burke, in evidence, said gardai were carrying out a search of a premises at Slevoy, Foulksmills, on September 22, 2018, where they met with a lady who indicated she was in difficulty having had a new baby. There was another child present at the time.

Det Burke said that while gardaí were carrying out the search a camper van, which had been parked at the front of the premises, started up, taking off at speed down the driveway.

Gardaí followed the van which subsequently stopped. ‘We entered the camper van and proceeded to carry out a search. We found two gear bags under the bed containing parcels wrapped with sellotape in among onions. Having searched the bags we found cash.’

The van was brought to Wexford Garda Station and in a further, more comprehensive search, more money was found.

‘We asked Mr. Joyce about the bags and onions. He replied, “I like onions”. This was his only comment,’ said Det. Burke.

Det. Burke said when the money was counted, it amounted to €911,600. The accused, he said, made no comment during his detention.

On his arrest Joyce was conveyed to Wexford Garda Station where he was detained under the Money Laundering Act.

Det.Burke said the accused pleaded guilty at an early stage. A family man, he is from the Meath area and had been involved in a horse business which he took over following the death of his father.

Detective Burke agreed with Defence Counsel, Philip Sheahan, that as money was wrapped up the accused would not have been aware of the amount involved.

He also agreed that Joyce feared for the safety of his family. He said the accused had been in custody since September 22, 2018, and that there had been no application for bail.

Prosecuting Counsel, Sinead Gleeson, said they would be making an application for the forfeiture of the cash.

Mr. Sheahan said the facts to be presented to the court are not unusual. The accused had a significant gambling addiction, and had been preyed upon by others for the transport of cash or drugs to pay debts. Due to a gambling addiction he had got into serious debt, but he was unwilling to divulge the source of his debt for fears of family safety. He was also coming under pressure to repay monies. At the time he committed the offence he knew that what he was doing was wrong and that what he was transporting was possibly illegal.

However, he did not know the amount of cash involved. Had he known, he would not have brought his young son with him.

Mr. Sheahan said his client accepted his culpability and that is reflected in that there has never been an application for bail. He accepted he had committed an offence for which there will be a custodial sentence. He has been with his wife for twenty-four years, and married for twenty. He has an offer of employment when he is released from prison.

The court was told the defendant has previous convictions.

Judge Quinn said the aggravating factor was the possession of a substantial amount of money which represents money laundering to quite a high level. In mitigation there was the defendant’s age and his early plea of guilty. The Judge said the headline sentence is seven years but he would impose a sentence of five years in prison, with the final two years suspended on the conditions that the defendant enter a bond of €200 to keep the peace while in prison and subsequently on his release for two years. He also ordered that, on his release from prison, Joyce would come under the supervision of the Probation Services for twelve months. The sentence would be backdated to September 22, 2018.