Nineteen-year-old-man given suspended sentence for money laundering at Nenagh Circuit Court
The judge told the man he was well able to earn his money
A 19-year-old has been given a suspended sentence for money laundering at Nenagh Circuit Court.
Justin Joyce (19) of Rivers Lisnagry, Limerick, pleaded guilty to two counts of money laundering related to a burglary committed in 2022.
The defendant was charged when gardaí seized his car and items of clothing.
BACKGROUND
Garda Detective Mark Cullinane told the court that on January 21, 2022, gardaí foiled a burglary in progress in Bandon, county Cork.
The burglary was the work of a group, of which the defendant was a member, and who gardaí believed had carried out a spate of burglaries, stealing mostly cash from the Munster area, mostly west Cork.
Garda Cullinane told the court the gardaí had been surveilling several suspects who met in Cashel and travelled to Cork.
The defendant was seen in a blue Ford Focus meeting with the group before getting into another car.
The group then travelled to residential property in Bandon where there was a substantial amount of cash on the premises.
“They were effectively caught red-handed,” said Garda Cullinane.
The defendant was at the time of the burglary, a minor.
A LOAN
Garda Cullinane told the court at the time of the investigation gardaí also examined Mr Joyce’s finances.
They determined the car he used to meet up with the group was the proceeds of crime and seized the vehicle, which gardaí estimated to be worth between €25,000 and €30,000.
Mr Joyce denies this and said that his father had loaned him the money to buy the car, the court heard.
During the course of the investigation, gardai searched the defendant’s home and found four Hugo Boss Polo shirts worth €276 still in their packaging.
Those items were also seized and are related to the second count of money laundering. Garda Cullinane told the court that the defendant did not work before the pandemic and has never been in receipt of social welfare.
The defendant told gardaí that his partner brings in an income for their family and that he has worked at car boot sales.
GLOWING REPORT
Acting for the defendant, Suzanne Gorey BL told the court that her client has engaged with a Le Cheile mentor and has been given a “glowing” probation report.
Ms Gorey said her client had engaged with restorative justice and courses in victim impact, safe pass and manual handling to better himself.
He has made every effort to get into employment, doing a year's unpaid work experience with a mechanic and has an upcoming interview.
Ms Gorey also said her client had a young son and was concerned about the impact on his child should he go to prison.
She said Mr Joyce was raised by a single parent and knows how hard that can be.
“Mr Joyce has made huge improvements in his life,” said Ms Gorey.
JUDGEMENT
Judge Catherine Staines said she noted the defendant's guilty plea, and the value of the vehicle and said the headline sentence should be one of five years.
However after considering the aggrivating and mitigating factors, she imposed a three-year prison sentence, suspended in full for three years on the first count and took the second into consideration.
Commenting on his probation report, Judge Staines said: “It’s one of the best reports I have seen in a long time. It is encouraging to see a young person with the help of the probation service, restorative justice and Le Cheile, turn his life around.”
She said she notes that the probation service see no further need to work with the defendant but encouraged him to continue what he started with them anyway.
Judge Staines said the defendant would forfeit the car and the clothing seized by gardaí .
“You are capable of earning your own money and holding your head up high,” said Judge Staines.