A TEENAGER has appeared in court charged in connection with an alleged money laundering offence in Ennis, reports Ronan Judge.
Lee McNamara (18), with an address at Childers Road, Cloughleigh, Ennis, was brought before Ennis District Court on Wednesday evening (May 5). McNamara was arrested and charged after gardaí carried out a search of a vehicle in Ennis on Tuesday. Members of the Clare garda divisional drugs unit seized just under €37,000 in cash, alleged to be the proceeds of crime.
In court, Detective Garda Paul Heaslip gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution. He told the court the accused made no reply to the single charge against him after caution. Defence solicitor Laura Stephenson said she had no questions regarding the arrest, charge and caution of her client.
Sgt Aiden Lonergan told Judge Sandra Murphy that bail conditions had been agreed between gardaí and Ms Stephenson. He said the State consented to the accused being released on bail.
After viewing the bail conditions, Judge Murphy told McNamara that he must reside at his given address in Childers Road, Ennis, observe a curfew between 10pm and 8am, provide a mobile phone number to gardaí, keep the phone charged and in credit and sign on three times weekly at Ennis Garda Station.
As part of his bail conditions, McNamara must also surrender his passport to gardaí and undertake not to apply for any travel documents.
Sgt Lonergan said the court would be aware that the charge arises from a recent matter and the State would require time to prepare a file for the director of public prosecutions (DPP) to determine in what court the case will ultimately be heard. He said he was seeking a lengthy adjournment of the case.
Noting the charge against the accused, Judge Murphy said it was unlikely the case will proceed in the district court. Ms Stephenson said she had no difficulty with the State’s application.
She asked to be assigned legal aid to represent the accused, saying that her client is a student and is not employed.
Asked if he had any view on the legal aid application, Sgt Lonergan said the State was not yet in a position to comment either way.
Judge Murphy said she noted the amount stated in the charge sheet and said she was reserving a decision on legal aid. She remanded McNamara on bail to appear again at Ennis District Court on July 21.
The charge against McNamara alleges that at Páirc Na Coille, Drumbiggle Road, Ennis on May 4, he engaged in processing property this is the proceeds of criminal conduct – to wit – €36,850 cash, while knowing, believing or being reckless as to whether the said property was the proceeds of criminal conduct.
The alleged offence is contrary to section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010.
A native of Ennis, Colin McGann has been editor of The Clare Champion since August 2020. Former editor of The Clare People, he is a journalism and communications graduate of Dublin Institute of Technology.