Courts / Dublin / Report

Pair who made 'lifestyle choice' to launder drugs cash are jailed

Date
2021-02-04

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In February 2020, a mother‑of‑one, Tanya Breen, 30, and a Dublin bus driver, Laurence Keane, 42, were arrested after Gardaí discovered bundles of cash in a Kia Sportage and at Breen's home. The pair were charged with possession of €59,710 in proceeds of crime, linked to drug trafficking. Both pleaded guilty. Breen's lawyer argued she was a single mother struggling with bills and that the money was offered by community members. Keane's counsel highlighted his long employment with Dublin Bus and family responsibilities. Judge Elma Sheahan found no threat or compulsion, deeming the offence a "lifestyle choice" with high culpability. She sentenced Breen to 3½ years, suspending the final six months on a 12‑month good‑behaviour condition, and Keane to 2½ years, similarly suspended. The case was prosecuted under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act, 2010.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Pair who made 'lifestyle choice' to launder drugs cash are jailed. Charges or matters: possession of €59,710 in cash, which was the proceeds of crime, at Maxol Service Station on the Longmile Road, Dublin, on February 11, 2020; a second count of possessing the proceeds of crime at her home on the same date. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

February 11, 2020 Incident
2021-02-04 Publication

Case subjects

Tanya Breen

Defendant

Charges: possession of €59,710 in cash, which was the proceeds of crime, at Maxol Service Station on the Longmile Road, Dublin, on February 11, 2020; a second count of possessing the proceeds of crime at her home on the same date (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: She sentenced Breen to three-and-a-half years imprisonment, but suspended the final six months of the sentence on condition that she keep the peace and be of good behaviour for 12 months post release. Judge Sheahan sentenced Keane to two-and-a-half years imprisonment, but suspended the final six months on the same condition as his co-accused.