Courts / Louth / Report
Mercedes worth €50k seized from 'international crime gang' member
Summary
The Special Criminal Court ordered the forfeiture of a black Mercedes S350, valued at about €50,000, from Thomas Rooney, a 52‑year‑old member of an international crime gang. Rooney had pleaded guilty to money‑laundering offences under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing) Act 2010, and was found in possession of large sums of cash and encrypted devices. The vehicle, purchased in 2018 for €72,000, was used by Rooney to transport cash as part of an industrial‑scale laundering operation. The court noted that the car could have been used for legitimate business but that its use in criminal activity made it subject to forfeiture. Rooney was sentenced to six years' imprisonment in January of this year. The forfeiture order was granted by Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Mercedes worth €50k seized from 'international crime gang' member. Charges or matters: possessing €254,840 in a black holdall bag at Donore Road and to possessing €7,650 at North Road, Drogheda, on the same date. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 11, 2020 Incident
- 2022-06-02 Publication
Why: Garret Baker BL previously told the court that the State was seeking the forfeiture of the Mercedes, which was in possession of Rooney's chauffeur service company EBT Executive Travel Ltd, because the defendant had admitted counting €7,650 in crime cash from an envelope in the vehicle. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possessing €254,840 in a black holdall bag at Donore Road and to possessing €7,650 at North Road, Drogheda, on the same date (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Rooney was sentenced to six years' imprisonment by the three-judge court in January of this year.
Places mentioned
- The Special Criminal Court
- Donore Road
- North Road
Topics
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