A Meath man has had over €49,000 seized from him after a court rejected his claim that the cash was the winnings of a horse-racing syndicate. His partner had €19,950 confiscated after telling the court she did not trust banks.
David Whearty (50), Bellewstown, Co Meath, and Angela Rooney (46), Drogheda, Co Louth, were stopped at Dublin Airport by a Customs officer on February 27th, 2010.
Judge Patricia Ryan declared both sums to be the proceeds of crime and ordered that they be forfeited to the State.
John Byrne, prosecuting, told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that in an affidavit to the court, Mr Whearty said the €49,950 in cash found on him that day came from a racing syndicate.
Judge Ryan said that on the balance of probabilities, the money was either the proceeds of crime or was intended to be used in criminal activities.