Courts / Wexford / Report

'I like onions': €1m Kinahan bagman to be returned to jail after appeal

Date
2021-02-04

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Wexford

County
Wexford

Summary

In February 2021 the Court of Appeal increased Bernard Joyce's sentence for possessing €911,600, the proceeds of criminal conduct, by one year. Joyce, 45, had been found with the cash concealed in a camper van in Foulksmills, Co. Wexford, wrapped in onions to avoid detection by a sniffer dog. He pleaded guilty at Wexford Circuit Criminal Court. The Court of Appeal agreed with the Director of Public Prosecutions that the original three‑year sentence was unduly lenient, citing the amount of cash, its concealment and Joyce's attempt to flee. The judges accepted the headline sentence of seven years but, after accounting for time already served, imposed an actual custodial term of four years. Joyce was ordered to report to Wexford Garda station on 19 February.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'I like onions': €1m Kinahan bagman to be returned to jail after appeal. Charges or matters: possessing €911,600, which were the proceeds of criminal conduct, at Arnestown, Foulksmills, Co Wexford, on September 22, 2018, under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

September 22, 2018 Incident
February 19 Other
2021-02-04 Publication

Case subjects

Unnamed 45-year-old

Defendant

Charges: possessing €911,600, which were the proceeds of criminal conduct, at Arnestown, Foulksmills, Co Wexford, on September 22, 2018, under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Last September, counsel for the DPP Ms Gleeson argued before the Court of Appeal that the sentencing judge had imposed a sentence which did not adequately reflect the gravity of the offence committed. However, Ms Justice Ní Raifeartaigh said the court accepted the headline sentence of seven years imposed by the sentencing judge.