THE main suspect in the Veronica Guerin murder laundered, more than £5 million through a racecourse betting scam, according to receipts examined by gardai.
The criminal, thought to be in Amsterdam, has been laundering cash from his various illegal activities, including drugs and prostitution, through betting pitches on race courses around the State for the past two years. Careful odds on betting has entailed that the criminal, a man in his 40s who was released from prison just under three years ago, was able to bet more than £5 million in cash and lose only £70,000 over two years.
He insisted on payment of winnings by cheque to show the Revenue Commissioners that his earnings came from gambling. It has previously been reported that the criminal purchased as many as 10 betting pitches to facilitate his cash laundering. Gardai have inspected several bookmakers accounts and have found cheque stubs to show the extent of the laundering activity involved.
The criminal's activities have come to light during the investigation of Ms Guerin's murder ore June 26th. Gardai believe she was murdered to frighten other journalists from prying into the criminal's activities.
He has used the proceeds of his crimes to invest heavily in a large front business which is run by his wife. At the time of the murder he was in Amsterdam and is understood to be still there.
Gardai have discovered that another criminal, who has been running brothels on behalf of the "first criminal, installed secret cameras to film prostitutes with their clients for blackmail purposes. Cameras were found in a brothel off Capel Street in Dublin. However, no victim has yet come to light.
Ms Guerin had contacts with this second person, who has been in Portugal since the murder. Gardai believe he supplied information about her movements before her murder. Ms Guerin was in court in Naas, Co Kildare, on a speeding charge on the morning of her murder and detectives believe she may have let this be known to the second criminal.
The man whom gardai believe ordered her murder has his main interests in drugs trafficking and smuggling cigarettes and tobacco. He has two separate organisations, one for smuggling the drugs and contraband into the State and the other for distributing it.
Gardai describe him as an extremely violent man who makes a habit of threatening to attack or kill the children of his enemies. He is said to be feared by criminals in Britain and the Netherlands as well as Dublin.
Last week, gardai arrested a man who distributes drugs for the criminal, and drugs related charges may be brought against him. However, there is no indication yet that the investigation has produced evidence with which to bring charges against the main suspect.
With the impending introduction of anti racketeering legislation, which allows gardai to seize assets suspected of having come from criminal activity, he and other criminals are believed to be moving case out of the State.
