William Trimble resentenced for money laundering

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

William Trimble had his appeal against sentence severity allowed by the Court of Appeal on 27 October 2016. Mr. Justice Mahon delivered the judgment, replacing his sentence with five years’ imprisonment.

The final two years were suspended for a period of two years, conditional on Trimble entering into a €100 bond to keep the peace and be of good behaviour. The bond was a condition of the suspended sentence.

Trimble pleaded guilty and was convicted at the Circuit Criminal Court on 20 July 2015 on one count of money laundering contrary to section 7(1) and (3) of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010.

He was originally sentenced on 12 October 2015 to four years and six months’ imprisonment. Three similar counts were taken into consideration. Forfeiture and seizure orders concerning cash and a motor vehicle were also made at that stage.

The Court of Appeal found that the original sentence was excessive and that this constituted an error of principle, requiring it to resentence him.

In suspending part of the replacement sentence, the court recognised strong mitigating factors, including a very positive report from the prison authorities and an impressive letter from Trimble’s daughter. It also sought to encourage his rehabilitation.