Grandmother who had €63,000 cash hidden in car outside Louth hotel avoids jail
The Drogheda IndependentA 57-year-old grandmother who had a large quantity of cash in a hidden compartment in her car has avoided going to jail on a money laundering charge.
Rose Joyce was before Dundalk Circuit Court for sentencing having pleaded guilty to a charge of engaging in possessing property that is the proceeds of criminal conduct, to wit €63,250 cash while knowing/believing/being reckless as to whether or not the said property was the proceeds of criminal conduct.
She was stopped by Gardaí while trying to leave a carpark at the Carrickdale Hotel just south of the border in Co. Louth.
Ms Joyce, a native of Finglas, had a Co. Meath address at the time, and the court heard that she had been subject to threats and intimidation. There was concern about her location being widely known.
A full-time carer for her son who has significant medical conditions, she received a fully suspended two-and-a-half year sentence.
Evidence was given at a previous hearing that at 11.40am on January 7, 2023, Gardaí were on duty in the vicinity of the carpark because of information received.
The accused was seen getting into a car and remaining there for some time. She moved it after 1pm and about an hour later a white van parked beside her.
There was a brief conversation between her and the other driver, a male and a co-accused. Some sort of transaction took place.
Gardaí intercepted the vehicles as they were leaving the carpark.
There was an elaborate and well concealed compartment in the car operated by a key fob.
Ms Joyce, who has no previous convictions, was arrested and subsequently interviewed by investigators.
Her explanation that a man asked her to carry the cash to be passed to someone else was not accepted by Gardaí.
The court heard that her caravan in Co. Meath was burnt out. She was now in more suitable accommodation.
Judge Dara Hayes said that she acted as a courier.
The amount of cash and a sophisticated concealed compartment were aggravating factors.
What occurred was clearly an assistance in furtherance of significant criminality, perhaps not directly on the defendant’s part, the judge continued, but her offending was of assistance.
A probation report outlined that she was one of 10 children and originally from Finglas. Her parents separated and she was raised by her mother.
She had overcome alcohol difficulties.
There was concern about her whereabouts being widely known. She had moved away from the Ashbourne area. Most of her family are not aware of her present address.
Judge Hayes said that an immediate custodial sentence would be an undue hardship on Rose Joyce’s son.
A two-and-a-half-year sentence was suspended in its entirety for two-and-a-half years.
Conditions include that she place herself under Probation Service supervision for 12 months.
A forfeiture order was made for the car.