Money laundering case adjourned

A 36-year-old man accused of laundering €279,000 and other offences has been remanded on bail for service of a book of evidence.

Last week Pearse O’Connor, Rampark, Jenkinstown, had fresh charges put to him.

Det Gda Glen MacKessy, of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement, gave evidence of arresting the defendant by arrangement that morning, 23 January, at 9.48am.

After charge and caution he said O’Connor made no comment.

The alleged offences are contrary to Section 26 of the Criminal Justice (Theft & Fraud Offences) Act 2001 (use of a false instrument) and relate to dates on 23 February, 11 March, 18 March, 20 April, 5 May and 7 May, all 2015.

Last August, the same accused was charged with, on dates between 4 March, 2015 and 10 March, 2015 inclusive at Bank of Ireland, Clanbrassil Street, Dundalk, engaging in/converting/ transferring/acquiring/possessing/using property that is the proceeds of criminal conduct, to wit €250,000, in a bank account held at Bank of Ireland while knowing that/believing that/being reckless as to whether or not the said property was the proceeds of criminal conduct, contrary to the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010.

He faces two further counts of the same alleged offence in respect of €24,000 on dates between 11 March, 2015 and 13 March, 2015; and in respect of €5,000 on 24 February, 2015, both at Bank of Ireland, Clanbrassil Street.

He is further accused of, between 23 January, 2015 and 14 May, 2015, knowingly being a party to the carrying on of the business, Pearse Roofing & Cladding Ltd. for a fraudulent purpose, namely the dishonest solicitation of payments from Keys Commercial Finance Ltd. by furnishing false or misleading invoices to it, contrary to Section 297 of the Companies Act 1963, as substituted by Section 137 of the Companies Act, 1990.

O’Connor is also charged with, at Ardee Road, Dundalk, between 1 January, 2015 and 31 January, 2015, using an instrument, to wit, Pearse Roofing & Cladding Ltd. directors’ report and unaudited financial statements for the year ended 30 September, 2014, with the intention of inducing another person to accept it as genuine, contrary to Section 26 of the Criminal Justice (Theft & Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

Last week, Det Gda MacKessy applied for Pearse O’Connor to be remanded on bail for service of a book of evidence on all matters.

Judge Coughlan put the case back to 13 February next for that purpose.