The Director of Public Prosecutions v Michael Henry Duffy

Amount Forfeited

€49,600

Court Date

12 March 2014

Venue

Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

Judge

Mary Ellen Ring

Summary

On the 12 March 2014, Dublin Circuit Court ordered the forfeiture to the Exchequer of cash amounting to €49,600 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 and that the explanations given did not stand up to scrutiny.

On 18 April 2012 Revenue Enforcement Officers at Dublin Airport seized and detained the cash, concealed as children’s presents, from Michael Duffy, an Irish national, as he was about to board a flight to Murcia, Spain. He claimed that the cash was borrowed from his cousin and was to be used to pay arrears on a mortgage for a property that he owned in Spain.

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.

There was no appearance at the Circuit Court by or on behalf of Mr Duffy and the cash was forfeited to the State.