Money-laundering trial of car salesman continues

The trial of a former second hand car salesman accused of laundering drug money has continued at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

James Naylor (aged 37) of Forest View, Pine Forest Road, Glencullen, has pleaded not guilty to seven charges of laundering the proceeds of criminal activities on dates between March 2001 and June 2003.

In opening the case for the prosecution Mr Dominic McGinn BL earlier said the evidence would be that Mr Naylor was a second hand car dealer with premises in Rathfarnham who allegedly had a business arrangement with Michael Byrne who was involved in various criminal activities.

Mr McGinn said the prosecution case would be that Byrne bought expensive cars with the proceeds of crime and gave them to the accused to sell through his legitimate car dealership.

Mr McGinn told the jury that it will have to decide on Mr Naylor’s state of knowledge in relation to Byrne’s activities.

Detective garda Michael Walsh told Mr McGinn that Michael Bynre was stopped in the UK at Dover ferry port on June 26, 2002 with a large amount of cash including €400,000 hidden in the tyre of the vehicle.

The hearing continues before Judge Michael White and a jury of eight men and four women.