Dublin man jailed for money laundering

By Sonya McLean

A man who was caught with over €85,000 in cash at his home has been jailed for money laundering.

Stephen Geoghegan (35) of Neilstown Park, Clondalkin, Dublin 22, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to being in possession of cash, €85,520, believing or being reckless as to whether it was the proceeds of crime on November 1, 2023. He has no previous convictions.

Detective Garda Lorraine Brennan told John Moher BL, prosecuting, that confidential information led to Geoghegan’s home being searched. Geoghegan immediately co-operated and informed officers that there was cash in a wardrobe upstairs but he said he didn’t know how much was there.

Officers ultimately found a bag containing €63,000 and further cash wrapped in cling film and in a brown envelope. A quantity of sterling was also found and a jet ski, a van and a luxury watch were also seized.

Geoghegan admitted in interview that the cash was his but he would not tell gardaí where he got it from. He said he was in receipt of social welfare and not working.

Det Gda Brennan agreed with Garrett McCormack, BL defending, that his client took responsibility for the cash and caused gardaí no difficulty.

Mr McCormack said his client did not seek to blame anyone else and put his hands up, co-operating with the garda search and subsequent investigation.

It was accepted that the father of three has not come to garda attention since nor was he on the garda radar at the time.

Judge Martin Nolan said Geoghegan had his own reasons for holding a substantial amount of cash.

“The gardaí had their information and found the money,” the judge said before he accepted that Geoghegan has no previous convictions and “has many good points”.

He said however that “somebody trusted him with this money” and he held it on behalf of a criminal organisation and as such played an important role.

Judge Nolan said a headline sentence of five years was warranted before he jailed Geoghegan for two and half years. The cash, watch, jet ski and van were forfeited to the State.