Cash Seizure and Forfeiture
Amount Forfeited
€60,000
Date
06th October 2011
The Director of Public Prosecutions v Thomas Rooney
Venue
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Judge
Martin Nolan
Summary
On the 06th October 2011 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court ordered the forfeiture to the Exchequer of cash amounting to €60,000 pursuant to Section 39, Criminal Justice Act 1994, as amended by Section 21, Proceeds of Crime (Amendment) Act 2005, on the grounds that it was proven on the balance of probabilities to represent the proceeds of crime, or was intended for use in criminal conduct.
On 31st December 2009 Revenue Enforcement Officers at Dublin Airport seized and detained the cash from Thomas Rooney, an Irish national, having discovered it during a search of his hand luggage, as he was preparing to board a flight to Amsterdam, The Netherlands. The cash was contained in six envelopes located in Mr. Rooney's hand luggage. Mr Rooney initially informed Revenue Enforcement Officers that the cash was floating around for doing business. Later Mr. Rooney stated that the cash was not his and he claimed it was deposits from two customers to purchase camper vans. However no evidence was ever produced to support either claim.
Following an investigation by Revenue's Investigations and Prosecutions Division, a file on the matter was referred to the Director of Public Prosecutions who ordered the forfeiture proceedings.
Mr Rooney did not attend, nor was he represented at the Circuit Criminal Court, and the application was unopposed.