Gang members were caught digging up €80k cash in field

MEMBERS of an organised crime gang caught digging up almost €80,000 in cash buried in coffee jars in a field have been sentenced.

A Garda helicopter captured footage of three men, described in court as members of the ‘Wall organised crime group’, digging up the cash in Rathcoole, Co. Dublin.

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard gardaí believe that the cash dug up by Wall brothers Michael, 30, Thomas, 39, and Patrick, 20, using shovels and a mini digger, was derived from burglaries. Bottles of Lucozade and packets of Monster Munch crisps, which Patrick Wall had earlier been captured on CCTV footage buying in a local Applegreen service station, were also found in the hole.

The court heard the brothers began digging on August 14, 2020 after becoming aware the landowner was carrying out groundworks at the location in Keatings Park. The brothers had approached local businesses earlier in the day to inquire about the works and ask that it be stopped. Gardaí were in receipt of confidential information that the Walls were seeking to recover a large amount of cash buried in the field and an operation was put in place.

Michael Wall, of Fortunestown Lane, Tallaght, and Thomas and Patrick Wall, both of Fortunestown Crescent, Tallaght, were initially charged with money-laundering offences, but guilty pleas to possession of stolen property were accepted by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The case of Patrick Wall was adjourned to May for finalisation for a probation report. Yesterday, Judge Orla Crowe commended the work carried out by the gardaí in the case.

She imposed sentences of 18 months on Michael and Thomas Wall. She noted both men were married with children and took into account their personal circumstances. She noted Thomas Wall had already served 12 months in custody and gave him credit for that time.

Judge Crowe further noted that Michael Wall had no prior convictions at the time of this offence and suspended his sentence in full.