Bernard Joyce’s sentence increased to four years over €911,600

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 sentence to four years in custody on 4 February 2021 after finding his original sentence unduly lenient. The proceedings were reported on 4 February 2021.

Joyce pleaded guilty at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court to possessing €911,600 that was the proceeds of criminal conduct, 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 money in two gear bags in a hollow section under a bed in his camper van. The bags contained parcels of cash and onions. No fingerprint or DNA evidence was found on the bags or cash. Garda Stephen Burke said the camper van had left the premises at speed before gardaí gave chase and it stopped. Joyce told gardaí he was in Wexford to buy a boat. After being cautioned, he said he liked onions.

Gardaí believed the money was destined for the Kinahan crime cartel. Prosecuting counsel Sinead Gleeson said an application would be made to forfeit the cash. At the appeal, she argued that the original sentence did not adequately reflect the offence’s gravity. Joyce’s counsel, Philip Sheahan SC, said the sentencing judge had taken a careful approach and had not erred in allowing two years’ mitigation.

The original judge had set a seven-year headline sentence, reduced it to five years and suspended the final two years. Delivering the appeal judgment, Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh accepted the seven-year headline but found the combined reduction and suspension unduly lenient. She noted Joyce’s guilty plea and other mitigation, including his efforts to address a gambling addiction, a job offer and his family circumstances.

The four-year custodial sentence took account of time already served. Mr Justice George Birmingham ordered Joyce to present himself at Wexford Garda station on 19 February.