Money laundering probe uncovers more cash

GARDAÍ seized a further £100,000 sterling in searches over the weekend as part of the investigation into a suspected IRA money laundering operation.

A file is to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to a man who was arrested last Friday after attempts had been made to burn money on his premises. Don Blaney, in his 40s, from Passage West in Cork, was released without charge yesterday and a file is being sent to the DPP.

Armed detectives raided Mr Blaney’s house and in follow-up searches are reported to have found rounds from an assault rifle.

Meanwhile, the £100,000 cash was confiscated by detectives when they called to the house of man in Co Cork on Saturday. The seizure brings to almost £2.74 million (€3.97m) the amount of cash linked to the money laundering operation that has been recovered.

Gardaí suspect the cash is from the £26.5m Northern Bank raid but are awaiting confirmation from the PSNI, who are analysing a sample of the seized cash.

It is understood that detectives in Cork visited the man at his home without a search warrant. The man agreed to allow the officers in and during their search they recovered the cash and some documentation.

The man was interviewed by gardaí, but was not arrested.

Gardaí have yet to decide whether they will prepare a file for the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The cash will be taken to Garda Headquarters in Dublin where, along with the other cash seized, it will be forensically examined for any DNA or fingerprint evidence. A sample will also be sent to the North to be analysed by the PSNI and bank officials.

The weekend seizure followed an appeal by Garda Commissioner Noel Conroy for people who may have received sterling, even unwittingly, to come forward before “we come knocking on their door”.