Man is jailed for laundering more than €500,000

A DUBLIN man was given a lengthy prison sentence having pleaded guilty to a money laundering offence involving more than €500,000.

Thirty-year-old Glen Power of Colpark Road, Ballyfermot, Dublin, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering at Whitemill Road, Wexford town, on September 24 last.

Wexford Circuit Criminal Court heard that Power was caught transporting €503,890 of criminal proceeds in a van after he arrived at the Industrial Estate in Clonard.

Det Garda Fiona Connaughton told the sentencing hearing that the gardaí believed the money seized in the car park was about to be taken out of the State. She also told the court that the charge arose from an Intelligence Operation carried out by the National Drugs Investigative Unit.

Det Garda Connaughton told prosecuting counsel Sinead Gleeson that the defendant arrived at the back of a building in a van and that, shortly afterwards, gardai arrived on the scene. The gardaí observed the money being transferred to another vehicle at which stage they intervened and recovered the bag containing the cash.

The defendant was arrested the scene and conveyed to Wexford Garda Station. He was subsequently charged and brought before the court along with a second defendant who has already appeared before the court for sentencing.

Replying to defence counsel, Paul Murray SC, Det Garda Conaughton said that the gardaí were acting on information received that the defendant would arrive at a particular where he was to meet another vehicle.

Det. Garda Connaughton also told Mr Murray that the defendant was observed stopping at the forecourt of the building on two occasions; the first time he travelled on, then he returned. She said that, shortly afterwards, he was joined by the other vehicle at which stage the transfer took place and the gardaí intervened.

The defendant, she said, was arrested and questioned at the scene before being conveyed to Wexford Garda Station where he was further questioned before being charged.

Mr Murray said that, during the questioning, a question was put to him in relation to the money and he said the bag was given to him and he was instructed to hand the money over to another person on arrival in Wexford.

While the defendant had one previous drugs related conviction, Mr Murray said he had not come to the attention of gardaí since this offence. He also said that the defendant came to the notice of gardaí in this as the result of information provided.

Mr Murray also told the court that after this incident, there was a follow-up operation at another premises, the result of which Bernard Joyce, of Newtown, Beuparc, Slane, Co Meath, being sentenced to five years in prison (with the final two suspended) for money laundering.

The defendant, said Mr Murray, expressed his remorse and regret to the court and his family for his involvement in this. Having pleaded guilty, the matter had been adjourned on numerous occasions. His father and mother were in court, along with his partner, mother-in-law and other family members. Power’s partner has a son, to which he is a step-father.

The court was told that this situation arose as the result of a drug debt. His client had an accident some years ago but his back injury was not responding to normal therapy. As a result, he became involved in drugs, subsequently running up a debt of €7,000.

Mr Murray said that the defendant was given the parcel to transport to Wexford. All he knew was to go to the location and hand over the bag to the man he was to meet. Power now regrets becoming involved in this but it was all because of a drugs debt incurred.

There were two Probation and Welfare reports before the court outlining Power’s involvement and how he became involved. The reports suggest a particular course and Mr Murray recommended this course to the court, asking the court to be lenient.

Judge Cormac Quinn said the defendant pleaded guilty to the single count of money laundering.

Judge Quinn said he accepted the defendant had a drugs debt, while the circumstances surrounding this event also led to the eventual search of a camper van, where a substantial amount of money was located.

An aggravating factor, said Judge Quinn, was the substantial amount of money, which was money laundering to quite a high level.

In mitigation there was the defendant’s age, his early guilty plea, and his partner and step-child.

Judge Quinn said that the headline sentence would be six years but he would impose a fouryear prison sentence. In light of the recommendations of the Probation and Welfare Services, he would suspend the final 18 months for two years on the defendant entering into his own bond of €200 to keep the peace and be of good behaviour while in prison. He must also come under the supervision of the Probation and Welfare Services for two years upon his release from prison.

Judge Quinn also granted an application from Ms Gleeson for the forfeiture of the money.