The Director of Public Prosecutions v Anthony Griffiths

Amount Forfeited

€8,000.00

Court Date

25 October 2012 

The Director of Public Prosecutions v Anthony Griffiths

Venue

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

Judge

Martin Nolan

Summary

On the 25 October 2012 Dublin Circuit Criminal Court ordered the forfeiture to the Exchequer of cash amounting to €8,000 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 13 September 2011 Revenue Enforcement Officers at Dublin Airport seized and detained the cash from Anthony Griffiths, as he was about board a flight to the Netherlands. 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.

The court was told that when questioned Mr. Griffiths stated he was carrying approximately €8,000, in a runner in his hand luggage. It was stated in evidence that Anthony Griffiths claimed that he was travelling to Amsterdam, the Netherlands for a party. He then stated he might stay in Amsterdam for a holiday. The Court was told that Mr. Griffiths had claimed that the cash was savings from his employment. However he had been unemployed since 2010.

Mr Griffiths' legal representatives advised the Court that they had been instructed not to contest the forfeiture application, and further asked that the evidence would not be read out in Court. The Court declined this request.