Courts / Kildare / Report

Court rules Rolex and VW car are proceeds of crime

Date
2020-01-21
Stage
Charge Or Pretrial
Primary locality
Kildare
County
Kildare

Summary

In a High Court hearing on 21 January 2020, Mr Justice Alexander Owens ruled that a Volkswagen Passat and a diamond‑encrusted Rolex watch owned by a Kildare couple were purchased with proceeds of crime. Jerry Knee and Ann‑Marie Cassidy, both 30 and from Athy, represented themselves after their barrister, Desmond Hayes, withdrew following the court's rejection of their legal aid application. The items were seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) on 29 May 2018 and were handed to the CAB's chief legal officer. Mr Knee has prior convictions for burglary and trespassing; Ms Cassidy has none. CAB, represented by David Dodd BL, argued that the couple's financial evidence—cash lodgements totalling €43,000 and a €5,000 lodgement—was inconsistent with the luxury items. The court found the couple's affidavits, which claimed the car was bought from savings and welfare payments, insufficient to prove legitimate funding, and therefore concluded the items were proceeds of crime.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Court rules Rolex and VW car are proceeds of crime. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial

When:

Why: He gave details of several cash lodgements and explained that €43,000 in cash lodgements had been made in a period of time up to 2018. CNI source report

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • The High Court
Secondary Mention
Residence

Topics

Burglary Stage Charge Or Pretrial

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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