Jail term for Louth woman who drove car with €380,000 hidden in secret compartment
A former airport security worker found with more than €380,000 in a hidden compartment in a car she was driving has been sent to prison for one year and nine months.
Sabrina Carolan (40), Rowan Heights, Drogheda, who has no previous convictions, signed a plea of guilty to one count of money laundering which stemmed from a traffic stop.
Dundalk Circuit Court was told that she is related to a well-known crime family in Drogheda, and was under pressure to make a collection. There was no threat to her in the context of the Drogheda feud.
Passing sentence, Judge Dara Hayes said it was a very large quantity of cash the defendant was tasked to bring to some unknown place. It would require a significant degree of trust in her to be involved in that.
The judge continued the money was clearly the proceeds of crime, and she assisted serious criminality.
A three-year sentence was imposed, the final 15 months suspended.
Evidence was given previously that a Toyota Avensis was stopped at Junction 9 of the M1 while travelling south on October 16, 2024, tinted windows having drawn the attention of Gardaí.
The driver appeared nervous. The rear boot space appeared smaller than it should be. A false compartment was found between the rear seats and the boot. Inside was a Minecraft backpack and other bags containing €380,675.
The defendant told investigators that she got a call that morning to pick up bags at the Carrickdale Hotel, close to the border with Northern Ireland.
CCTV footage showed her vehicle in a car park there and an exchange taking place.
She denied knowing what was in the bags. She suspected it might be a small bit of drugs.
Ms Carolan admitted smoking small amounts of “weed” and told officers that she and her mother had been under threat.
The court heard that the accused had moved from Drogheda to Cork seven years before, where she worked in security at the airport for two years, and with people with autism for another two years.
An only child, she returned home because of her mother’s deteriorating health. Her grandmother was also dependent on her.
She was pressurised to take part in this, and under threat to have the money couriered by her. She got no recompense for it.
It was stated on her behalf that she was shocked at the amount of money in the bags.
Ms Carolan had purchased the car a short time previously and had no part in the adjustments to facilitate the compartment. She knew it was there when the money was put into it.
Barrister Donough McDonough said that his client had addiction issues linked to her offending.
Since this incident, she lost her job as a driver and lapsed on drink and drugs. She recognised that she needed residential treatment.
Counsel added that Ms Carolan has no association with the well-known crime family.