Aer Lingus worker tried for people smuggling

AN Aer Lingus worker accused of smuggling foreigners into the country on Aer Lingus planes has been sent forward for trial

Peter Kernan, 57, is charged with money laundering and organising people smuggling at Dublin Airport.

His co-accused Frederick Cham, of Railway Cottages, Hazelhatch, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, has pleaded guilty to allowing an illegal immigrant seeking asylum into the State. His hearing takes place next week.

Kernan, with an address of the Old Rectory Lodge, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, appeared before Dublin District Court yesterday where he was served with a book of evidence.

He had been originally charged in January last year with unlawfully facilitating the entry of two nonnationals into the State on January 9 and January 22, 2017. He also had a charge alleging that from January 17 until January 23 last year at a premises at Clane Road, Celbridge, Co. Kildare, he had proceeds from criminal conduct contrary to the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act.

In September 2017, some 19 additional charges were brought against the accused who has not yet indicated how he will plead.

These additional counts included charges for facilitating the entry of another five non-nationals into the State at the airport on December 29 and January 1 last.

The other 14 charges were under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act for having the proceeds of crime at various locations.

These offences are alleged to have occurred on dates from November 2015 until January 2016. He will face his next hearing on February 23, 2018. He must notify the prosecution if he intends to use an alibi in his defence, Judge Paula Murphy said.