Money-laundering cases adjourned

Four women and two men from a Cork City family, facing charges under money-laundering legislation, yesterday had cases against them adjourned, until February.

The cases were in the list at the opening day of the sessions of Cork Circuit Criminal Court, yesterday.

They were put back for trial on a date to be fixed at the next sessions of Cork Circuit Criminal Court, in February. The charges relate to alleged offences of having cash sums varying from €200 to €29,500, and having post-office books with balances of up to €10,000.

Earlier this month, solicitors were appointed to represent the accused on free legal aid.

District Court Judge Con O’Leary had extended free legal aid for a barrister to represent each of the accused.

However, he had refused an application to extend the legal aid to cover a senior counsel for each accused.

Yesterday, at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, it emerged that the State would be prosecuting the case with a senior counsel.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin acceded to applications by junior counsel for each of the accused to have free legal aid extended for a senior counsel.

The case allegedly arises out of an operation into money-laundering by Gardai attached to the Divisional Fraud Investigation Unit at Anglesea Street, in Cork City, assisted by the Divisional Drug Unit and the Criminal Assets Bureau.

It is alleged that seizures of cash and post-office books were made in February and March, 2014 in the course of searches at houses at Kerryhall Rd, Fairhill, and St Coleman’s Rd, all in Cork City.

The charges are being brought under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act, 2010.

They state that the accused concealed the source, location and ownership of property that is the proceeds of criminal conduct, to wit a sum of cash or a post-office book with a particular balance, while being reckless as to whether the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct.

Jennifer Heaphy, aged 34, of Kerryhall Rd, is charged with having cash sums of €29,500, €2,200, €650, and €3,000 at her home, and a post office account with a €10,500 balance and another in a juvenile’s name with a €10,010 balance, at St Coleman’s Road.

Her husband, Jonathan Heaphy, 34, is charged with the same six counts and further charges of having €28,000 and €200 in cash and a post-office account with just over €10,000.

Daniel Heaphy, 20, of Kerryhall Rd, is accused of having €10,000 at an address in St Coleman’s Road.

Helen Heaphy, 51, of Kerryhall Rd, with having a post-office book with about €6,000 in it.

Jessica Heaphy, 20, of Kerryhall Rd, is charged with having €3,000 in cash and €3,000 in a post-office book.

Nicole Heaphy, of St Coleman’s Rd, is charged with having a €2,000 post-office book and cash of €28,000 and €200.