Courts / Louth / Report
Gang member Rooney 'would've been better off with a banger' as State seeks to seize €72k Merc
Summary
At the Special Criminal Court, the State applied for the forfeiture of a 2018 Mercedes S-Class registered to Thomas Rooney (52), a Betaghstown resident described as a mid-to-high level gang member. Rooney pleaded guilty in July 2023 to possessing €289,770 and £65,000 in crime cash at a Drogheda car park, along with two further charges involving €254,840 and €7,650, all under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing) Act 2010. He was sentenced to six years' imprisonment in January 2024. His then-partner, Catherine Dawson (44), received a fully suspended sentence of three years and nine months in May 2023 for her role in moving the gang's money, suspended on condition of good behaviour for five years. The State argued the vehicle, held by Rooney's company EBT Executive Travel Ltd, was integral to the offence, citing texts sent from a phone plugged into the car to coordinate the transfer of cash. Defence counsel John D Fitzgerald SC argued the car was used for legitimate business and that forfeiture would cause undue hardship. Presiding judge Mr Justice Hunt remarked that Rooney would have been better off with a cheaper vehicle. The matter was adjourned to June 2 for a decision on the forfeiture.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Gang member Rooney 'would've been better off with a banger' as State seeks to seize €72k Merc. Charges or matters: two further charges of possessing cash, which were also the proceeds of crime; possessing €254,840 in a black holdall bag also at Donore Road and to possessing €7,650 at North Road, Drogheda, both on May 11, 2020; counting €7,650 in crime cash from an envelope in the vehicle. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 11, 2020 Incident
- June 2 Adjournment
- 2022-04-29 Publication
Why: Mr Baker told the court that the State was seeking the forfeiture of the car because Rooney had pleaded guilty to counting €7,650 in crime cash from an envelope in the vehicle. CNI source report
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: counting €7,650 in crime cash from an envelope in the vehicle (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: Catherine Dawson (44), also of Betaghstown and with whom he has two children, was given a fully suspended sentence by the Special Criminal Court for her role in moving the gang's money.; Mr Justice Hunt adjourned the matter to June 2, for decision on the forfeiture.
Defendant
Charges: two further charges of possessing cash, which were also the proceeds of crime; possessing €254,840 in a black holdall bag also at Donore Road and to possessing €7,650 at North Road, Drogheda, both on May 11, 2020; counting €7,650 in crime cash from an envelope in the vehicle (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Rooney was sentenced to six years' imprisonment by the three-judge court in January of this year. In May of last year, Rooney's then partner Catherine Dawson (44), also of Betaghstown and with whom he has two children, was given a fully suspended sentence by the Special Criminal Court for her role in moving the gang's money.; Mr Justice Hunt adjourned the matter to June 2, for decision on the forfeiture.
Places mentioned
- Special Criminal Court
- Donore Road
- North Road
Topics
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