Courts / Dublin / Report

Man admits to laundering crime cash

Date
2021-07-05

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Special Criminal Court hearing, James Walsh, 37, pleaded guilty to laundering €62,000 in crime cash. He and his former partner, Lisa O'Hara, 32, face 44 money‑laundering charges, including using the cash as a house deposit and hiding €19,000 in a wardrobe. The court heard that Walsh admitted knowing or being reckless about the criminal origin of the money, which was used in transactions between June 2016 and January 2017. Both accused are also charged with converting, transferring, and handling money credited to a Bank of Ireland account and a Palmerstown Credit Union account in 2015, and with using €60,000 as a house deposit. The case was adjourned to 19 July, with Walsh receiving free legal aid. The hearing lasted over an hour.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Man admits to laundering crime cash. Charges or matters: knowing or believing, or being reckless as to whether property, to wit: cash to the value of €62,000 was the proceeds of criminal conduct, did possess, use, convert, transfer or handle the said property in discharging sums due, contrary to Section 7 of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act; 20 offences, while Walsh is charged with 24 offences; concealing the location of cash to the value of €19,000 within a wardrobe at Wheatfield Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 on January 24, 2017, knowing or believing or being reckless as to whether the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct. Procedural stage: trial

When:

June 1, 2016 Incident
January 31, 2017 Incident
January 1, 2015 Incident
December 31, 2015 Incident
January 24, 2017 Adjournment
July 19 Adjournment
2021-07-05 Publication

Case subjects

James Walsh

Accused

Charges: knowing or believing, or being reckless as to whether property, to wit: cash to the value of €62,000 was the proceeds of criminal conduct, did possess, use, convert, transfer or handle the said property in discharging sums due, contrary to Section 7 of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act; 20 offences, while Walsh is charged with 24 offences; concealing the location of cash to the value of €19,000 within a wardrobe at Wheatfield Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 on January 24, 2017, knowing or believing or being reckless as to whether the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Free legal aid was granted to Walsh, without State objection, for a solicitor and two counsel and the case was adjourned to July 19.

Lisa O'Hara

Co Accused

Charges: 20 offences, while Walsh is charged with 24 offences; concealing the location of cash to the value of €19,000 within a wardrobe at Wheatfield Avenue, Clondalkin, Dublin 22 on January 24, 2017, knowing or believing or being reckless as to whether the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Free legal aid was granted to Walsh, without State objection, for a solicitor and two counsel and the case was adjourned to July 19.