Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
2 teenagers in court over knife murder
TWO teenagers are due in court charged with murder today after a “loving” dad was stabbed while allegedly confronting a gang.
Night shift supervisor, Robert Wilson, 53, who “always had a smile”, was attacked outside work late last Thursday night.
Robert’s family said he left behind a “devastated” wife, Elaine, and two step children, adding that he was “loved and respected by colleagues and friends”.
A 39-year-old man who tried to help Robert was hurt at Thornton & Ross pharmaceutical plant in Huddersfield, West Yorks.
Kiyran Earnshaw, 18, and a 15-year-old who can’t be named, appeared at Leeds magistrates court.
They were remanded in custody to appear before a crown court today.
A CRACK team of PSNI officers has worked with European colleagues to smash an operation that has laundered more than £215million, it was revealed yesterday.
Cops from the Economic Crime Unit worked for a year and a half with Gardai, the Criminal Assets Bureau, National Crime Agency, Interpol, HMRC and other agencies to unravel the case.
The cash, understood to have been generated over eight years from activities including drugs, human trafficking and prostitution, is being described as the “largest money-laundering search and arrest operation in Northern Ireland”.
Seven people were arrested after 15 properties were searched across Northern Ireland and seven people arrested during an operation during Monday and Tuesday.
Eight raids were carried out on Monday in Banbridge and Newry in Co Down and Omagh, Co Tyrone.
Seven further searches were carried out in Belfast, Banbridge, Newry and Ballymena, Co Antrim, yesterday.
Detectives said the money was siphoned through “shell” companies. They moved in on the operation following a “very large and very complex” investigation.
Detective Chief Inspector Ian Wilson said: “Together with Tactical Support Group officers, neighbourhood and local policing teams and colleagues from PSNI’S Operational Support Department, we carried out a large scale search and arrest operation over two days targeting individuals suspected of high-end money laundering through bank accounts in the UK and internationally.
“Six men aged 33, 37, 39, 40, 50, 67 and a 32-year-old woman were arrested during the two day operation.
The older man and the woman remain in police custody. The others were released on police bail.
“Due to the size and complexity of this investigation, the operation involved PSNI liaison with Garda Economic Crime Bureau, Criminal Assets Bureau, National Crime Agency, UK Financial Investigation Unit and Revenue and
Customs. International associations have been identified and PSNI are working with Europol and Interpol.
“We are also being assisted by money laundering experts coordinated by the National Economic CRIME Centre.
“We believe today’s operation is one of the most significant live investigations into money laundering in the UK.
“During our extensive investigation we identified that a significant volume of suspected
IAN WILSON YESTERDAY
criminal cash was being laundered out of the country through a number of shell companies and bank accounts held here in Northern Ireland.
“The investigation has identified over 50 companies and over 140 bank accounts
“In total, almost £215 million has been deposited to thousands of bank accounts across the UK and also transferred out of the UK through foreign exchange companies since 2011.”
Money laundering, the officer added, “is often a critical enabler of organised criminality”.
He said: “We believe that the majority of this money is derived from a range of criminal activity carried out by organised crime gangs.
“We are committed to keeping people safe by robustly pursuing those who are involved in laundering criminally derived money and enabling criminals to access the profits gained from their involvement in a range of illegal activities.
“I would appeal for anyone with any information on this type of activity to contact Police on 101 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”