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Truck driver agreed to move €1.3m after meeting 'man on boat'

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 44‑year‑old truck driver Noel Purcell was remanded in custody pending sentencing after being found with €1,287,700 in cash in his cab. Purcell admitted he had agreed to transport the money to Holland after meeting a man on a boat, who offered him €4,000 to do so. He claimed he was struggling with mortgage and credit card debt and was "vulnerable" and "easily‑led". Gardaí had pulled him over on Naas Road following a surveillance operation and discovered two large bags of cash wrapped in duct tape. Purcell pleaded guilty to one count of possessing cash that was the proceeds of a crime. He has no prior convictions and was described by his defence as anxious and financially stressed. Judge Melanie Greally noted the high amount and the need for a custodial sentence, remanding him to await a Probation Services report before sentencing on 19 January 2025.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Truck driver agreed to move €1.3m after meeting 'man on boat'. Charges or matters: one count of possessing cash that was the proceeds of a crime at the Naas Road, Dublin on July 12 last year. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• July 12 Incident
• January 19 Adjournment
• 2020-11-03 Publication

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence

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Read the original CNI report