Courts / Dublin / Report
€320k in organised crime cash found stashed in secret compartment
Summary
Dylan Byrne, 27, of St Mark's Avenue, Clondalkin, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for his role in a money‑laundering operation. He pleaded guilty to possessing the proceeds of crime, including €320,675 in cash found in a sealed compartment of a Renault van, and to possessing €4,000 of cocaine for sale or supply. The cash and drugs were seized at Holywell Commercial Centre, Swords, and at Byrne's home during a subsequent search. Byrne's mobile phone was seized, revealing extensive communications on the Signal app with a member of an organised crime gang, and Garda analysts identified regular patterns of contact. Byrne's defence highlighted his guilty pleas, cooperation, lack of prior serious convictions, long employment history, and family support. The judge described Byrne as a "vital cog" in transporting money for organised crime and noted his substantial mitigation factors, including his cooperation and good character evidence. The sentence reflects the aggravating evidence of comprehensive involvement in organised crime.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: €320k in organised crime cash found stashed in secret compartment. Charges or matters: possessing the proceeds of crime at Holywell Commercial Centre, Swords on February 4 last year; possessing €4,000 of cocaine for sale or supply, which also found in the van and to possessing a small amount of cocaine at his home which was seized during a search the following day. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 4 Incident
- 2023-03-23 Publication
Why: Judge Nolan said valuable information had been gleaned because Byrne had given gardaí access to his phone, which helped gardaí with their investigation. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possessing the proceeds of crime at Holywell Commercial Centre, Swords on February 4 last year; possessing €4,000 of cocaine for sale or supply, which also found in the van and to possessing a small amount of cocaine at his home which was seized during a search the following day (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Passing sentence today, Judge Martin Nolan described Byrne as a "vital cog" in transporting money for organised crime.
Places mentioned
Topics
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