Nenagh Circuit Court: 19-year-old sentenced to suspended sentence for money laundering

A 19-year-old was sentenced to a suspended sentence for money laundering at Nenagh District Court.

Justin Joyce (19), of Rivers Lisnagry, Limerick, pleaded guilty to two counts of money laundering in connection with a burglary committed in 2022.

Charges were brought against the accused when the Gardaí seized his car and items of clothing.

BACKGROUND

Garda Detective Mark Cullinane told the court that the Garda foiled a burglary in Bandon, County Cork on January 21, 2022.

The burglary was the work of a group of which the accused was a member, which the Gardaí believed had carried out a series of burglaries, stealing mainly cash from the Munster area, particularly West Cork.

Garda Cullinane told the court that gardaí had been monitoring several suspects who met in Cashel and then travelled to Cork.

The defendant was seen in a blue Ford Focus when he met the group before getting into another car.

The group then went to a residential property in Bandon where a significant amount of cash was located.

“They were practically caught red-handed,” said Garda Cullinane.

The defendant was a minor at the time of the break-in.

A loan

Garda Cullinane told the court that at the time of the investigation the Garda were also investigating Mr Joyce’s finances.

They concluded that the car he had used to meet the group was the proceeds of crime and seized the vehicle, which the Gardaí estimated to be worth between €25,000 and €30,000.

Mr Joyce denies this and said his father lent him the money to buy the car, the court heard.

During the investigation, the Gardai searched the defendant’s apartment and found four Hugo Boss polo shirts, still in their packaging, worth 276 euros.

These items were also seized and are related to the second count of money laundering. Garda Cullinane told the court that the defendant had not worked before the pandemic and had never received welfare.

The defendant told the police that his partner contributed to the family income and that he worked at flea markets.

GLOWING REPORT

Suzanne Gorey BL, representing the defendant, told the court that her client had engaged a mentor from Le Cheile and received a “shining” probation report.

Ms Gorey said her client had participated in reparation programs and victim impact, safe pass and coping courses to improve his situation.

He has made every effort to find a job, has completed a one-year unpaid internship with a mechanic, and is about to have an interview.

Ms Gorey also said her client has a young son and was concerned about the impact on his child if he went to prison.

She said Mr Joyce was raised by a single parent and knows how hard it can be.

“Mr Joyce has made tremendous progress in his life,” Ms Gorey said.

ASSESSMENT

Judge Catherine Staines said she had noted the defendant’s guilty plea and the value of the vehicle and considered the likely sentence should be five years.

However, after weighing the aggravating and mitigating circumstances, it imposed a three-year prison sentence for the first charge, suspended for three years, and also took the second charge into account.

Commenting on his probation report, Judge Staines said: “It is one of the best reports I have seen for a long time. It is encouraging to see a young person getting his life back on track with the help of the probation service, reparation and Le Cheile.”

She said she had noted that the probation service saw no further need to cooperate with the defendant, but had encouraged him to continue the cooperation he had begun with them anyway.

Judge Staines said the defendant would lose the car and clothing seized by police.

“You are capable of earning your own money and living with your head held high,” said Judge Staines.