GANGSTER HID MONEY AT STAR SISTER’S HOME
A GANGSTER who stashed drugs money at the home of his ex- River City star sister has handed more than £ 1 million to prosecutors.
Stephen O’Donnell, 43, was forced to hand over £ 1,092,290 of his ill- gotten gains to prosecutors to settle a proceeds of crime action.
He is currently serving a twoyear sentence for hiding cash made from illegal activities at the home Laura Noble, 37, shared with her family in Robroyston, Glasgow.
Cops seized banknotes which had been stored in supermarket carrier bags in vacuum packs hidden in drawers, a cupboard and a bedroom.
Police went on to find another £ 76,000 of ill- gotten gains at the crook’s own property in the city’s Lambhill area.
O’Donnell was jailed after pleading guilty to proceeds of crimes offences at the High Court in Glasgow.
However, prosecutors took O’Donnell to court in a bid to recover cash that he made from his life of crime. Yesterday, O’Donnell appeared in the dock of the High Court in Edinburgh to hear his lawyer David Moggach say he was prepared to bring the proceeds action to an end.
O’Donnell, who wore a t- shirt made by Italian designer Balenciaga, heard judge Lord Summers order him to hand over the sum within six months.
O’Donnell originally appeared at the High Court in Glasgow alongside his actress sister.
She played Shellsuit Bob’s girlfriend Michelle Rafferty in the BBC Scotland soap under her maiden name Laura O’Donnell.
She also starred in the Peter Mullan film Orphans and featured alongside Trainspotting actor Jonny Lee Miller in the flick Complicity.
The siblings were joined in the dock by Laura’s husband Brian Noble, also 37.
O’Donnell admitted to two charges under the Proceeds of Crime Act of possessing “criminal property” totalling £ 1,092,290.
The Nobles had faced the same accusation in connection to the find at their home but prosecutors accepted their not guilty pleas.
Prosecutor Mark Mohammed
KC told the court: “Between April 8 and 23, 2022, O’Donnell collected and stored money on behalf of a known organised crime group.
“They had substantial assets and were involved in the widespread distribution of controlled drugs.
“He vacuum- packed cash for the purpose of distributing it.”
The court heard how police were alerted that O’Donnell had been stashing ill- gotten gains at the home of a “family member”.
It resulted in warrants being issued to search the detached home of his sister and brotherinlaw.
O’Donnell’s fingerprints and DNA were on several supermarket bags some of the cash hauls were in.
The carpet fitter’s home was also searched and more cash was seized, including from inside the pocket of a Vivienne Westwood hoodie.
O’Donnell was later arrested but made no comment.
Yesterday, prosecutor Bryan Heaney told Lord Summers the Crown was now content to settle the action.