The Director of Public Prosecutions v Paul Brendan Byrne

Amount Forfeited

€39,800

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 €39,800 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 22 April 2012 Revenue Enforcement Officers at Dublin Airport seized and detained the cash from Paul Byrne, an Irish national, as  he was about to board a flight to Murcia, Spain. He claimed that he was delivering the cash to another individual who was intending to use it to buy properties 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 Byrne and the cash was forfeited to the State.