Woman who was 'reckless' in not asking where crime cash came from gets suspended sentence

Convicted Person

Charges: multiple counts of handling or possessing cash while knowing, believing or being reckless as to whether the cash was the proceeds of crime; 12 counts of possessing, handling, using, converting or transferring cash while knowing, believing or being reckless as to whether the cash was the proceeds of criminal conduct contrary to Section 7 of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act; nine counts, with cash totalling €119,126, for offences between January 1, 2015 and early 2017 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Walsh, who is currently serving a sentence for a firearms offence, was sentenced to six years and nine months in prison, with the final two years suspended. Mr Justice Hunt sentenced Walsh to six years and nine months on each count, to run concurrently, acknowledging that this would add to the sentence he is already serving.

Defendant

Charges: multiple counts of handling or possessing cash while knowing, believing or being reckless as to whether the cash was the proceeds of crime; 12 counts of possessing, handling, using, converting or transferring cash while knowing, believing or being reckless as to whether the cash was the proceeds of criminal conduct contrary to Section 7 of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act; nine counts, with cash totalling €119,126, for offences between January 1, 2015 and early 2017 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Photo: Collins) A mother-of-one has been given a suspended sentence for multiple counts of laundering more than €100,000 that was the proceeds of crime. The judge also noted a positive letter from her full-time employer. "One wonders what interest would be served in incarcerating her, casting her on the care and expense of the State," he said. "We don't see any sense or logic in such a path." The court imposed a two-year, fully-suspended sentence on her own bond of €100 to keep the peace and be of good behaviour. "Her culpability is based on recklessness rather than intention," he said, before addressing O'Hara directly. "It's very important that you don't repeat the mistakes that brought you here today," he warned.