€16k seized from trader to be held until probe concluded

NEARLY €16,000 seized from the home of a Limerick woman, who trades in various street markets, will not be returned until gardaí are satisfied the cash did not result from any illegal activities, a judge has ruled.

Maria Collopy, 38, of Killonan, Ballysimon, unsuccessfully sought the return of the money at Limerick District Court yesterday.

Insp Seamus Ruane from Roxboro Road station told Judge Tom O’Donnell the state was objecting to the application on the basis that drugs worth €250,000 were found near the family home on December 8 last. No drugs were found on the property itself.

The money was seized on December 15.

Ms Collopy, in evidence, said the money had been legitimately raised through trading at markets in Limerick, Athy and Tipperary. She also testified to selling clothes in a number of estates in Limerick city.

Ms Collopy said she could not produce financial accounts as they had been in a van which was burned out.

John Herbert, solicitor, said that, as a trader, Ms Collopy may have a large quantity of cash on her at any given time. She had intended to use these funds to source stock in England to sell over the Christmas period. He said the return of the cash was crucial to Ms Collopy continuing her business. She had not worked since December 8 and was ineligible for social welfare.

Asked by Insp Ruane about the ‘mark up’ on her goods, Ms Collopy said she could treble her money on a pair of Dunlop wellington boots, selling at €20.

Mr Herbert said a sum of €11,000 was previously seized from her property in mid-2007 and this was returned in full following a Garda investigation.

“The money found was in a chest of drawers containing clothes. It wasn’t concealed in a manner that would suggest it was hidden. She disclosed to gardaí that she did have money in the house,” he added.

Det Sgt Denis Treacy said the money would not have been found without a meticulous search.

Judge O’Donnell said he was not overly satisfied with Ms Collopy’s evidence regarding the source of the money. He said the money could be returned to her only if it was discounted from any Garda investigation.