Bernard Joyce’s jail term increased to four years on appeal

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Court of Appeal increased Bernard Joyce’s custodial sentence from three years to four years after finding the original sentence unduly lenient. The proceedings were reported on 4 February 2021.

Joyce pleaded guilty at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court to possessing €911,600 in criminal proceeds under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. The offence took place at Arnestown, Foulksmills, Co Wexford, on 22 September 2018.

Gardaí found the cash in two bags concealed under a bed in his campervan, with onions also in the bags. No fingerprints or DNA were found on the bags or cash. Garda Stephen Burke said he believed the onions were intended to avoid detection by a sniffer dog. After being cautioned, Joyce made no comment other than indicating that he “liked onions”.

The original sentencing judge had set a seven-year headline sentence, reduced it to five years and suspended the final two years. The appeal court accepted the seven-year headline but found the resulting sentence unduly lenient. Its four-year custodial sentence took account of time already served.

Delivering the judgment, Ms Justice Ní Raifeartaigh identified Joyce’s guilty plea, his efforts in prison to address a gambling addiction, a job offer and his family circumstances as mitigating factors. Mr Justice George Birmingham ordered Joyce to present himself at Wexford Garda station on 19 February.