The Court of Appeal has reduced the effective custodial sentence imposed on William Trimble after Gardaí recovered almost €293,000 and £12,000 in cash from properties and a vehicle in north Dublin.
Trimble had pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering, with three similar counts taken into consideration. He originally received four years and six months' imprisonment.
The investigation began after Gardaí received confidential information and observed Trimble at Russell Terrace, Kettles Lane, Kinsealy. A later search uncovered €24,000 in a false compartment behind the passenger seat of a Chrysler jeep and another €23,000 in a concealed apartment at the premises.
Gardaí also searched Trimble’s home and a shed at Edenmore Drive. They recovered four €50,000 packages, £12,000, another €15,000 and a further €6,150. The total was €292,850 and £12,000.
The sentencing judge found that Trimble had become involved for a reward of about €4,000 or €5,000 and was holding criminal proceeds for others. The judge accepted significant mitigation, including his guilty plea, remorse, cooperation and the likelihood that he would not reoffend.
On appeal, Trimble argued that the sentence was excessive and that the judge had not clearly identified the seriousness of the offending before applying mitigation.
The Court of Appeal stressed that money laundering is serious because it supports wider criminal activity and can undermine legitimate business and the economy. Trimble was not the owner of the funds, but the court said he was providing a safe haven for money he knew represented criminal proceeds.
However, the court found the original sentence excessive when viewed against other money-laundering cases and Trimble’s strong personal mitigation.
It resentenced him to five years' imprisonment with the final two years suspended for two years. The suspension was intended to recognise the mitigation and encourage rehabilitation, leaving an effective custodial term of three years.