Courts / Laois / Report

High Court rules €136,000 in bank accounts of man on social welfare are the proceeds of crime

Summary

In a 2014 High Court ruling, Mr Justice George Birmingham held that €136,000 in savings accounts belonging to 27‑year‑old Charles Darren McInerney of Portlaoise were proceeds of crime. The accounts, held at Mountrath Credit Union, Bank of Ireland Mountrath and Portlaoise Post Office, had been frozen earlier. McInerney denied that the money came from illegal activity, but the judge found his explanations unconvincing. Evidence from the Criminal Assets Bureau and senior Gardai showed McInerney's involvement in the illegal drugs trade, including possession of cannabis, weighing scales and a knife, and a total of €525,000 had been deposited between 2006 and 2012. McInerney's only legal income during that period was social welfare. The judge accepted the evidence, ordered the accounts as proceeds of crime under the 1996 Proceeds of Crime Act, and appointed a receiver over the funds.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: High Court rules €136,000 in bank accounts of man on social welfare are the proceeds of crime. Charges or matters: illegal drugs trade. Procedural stage: hearing_or_decision

When:

• 2014-06-25 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Drugs Stage Hearing Or Decision

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Read the original CNI report