Gerard Mackin’s money-laundering sentence appeal dismissed

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Gerard Mackin’s appeal against his money-laundering sentence was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on 7 May 2024. The proceedings were reported on 7 May 2024.

Mackin had pleaded guilty to laundering €4,780, alleged to be the proceeds of criminal behaviour, at Rhebogue Road, Limerick, on 17 April 2019. The plea was entered on 13 March 2023 before the Special Criminal Court, contrary to Section 7 of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010.

Mr Justice Tony Hunt, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Alan Mitchell, imposed a headline sentence of four years and eight months, reduced to three years and six months after a 25% discount for mitigation and backdated to 5 December 2022. The sentence was reported on 19 May 2023.

The defence argued that the amount was low, the operation was not sophisticated and part of the sentence should have been suspended. It also relied on Mackin’s early guilty plea, family circumstances, work record and intention to rebuild his life in Spain.

The prosecution relied on the cash being found with two phones, including one capable of encryption, and said it was connected with criminality. The appeal court held that the sentencing court was entitled to consider that context and dismissed the appeal against severity.