Chef on IRA charges had €94,000 in Daz box, court told

A Co Cork chef charged with IRA membership was found in possession of a Daz washing powder box containing over €94,000 by gardaí investigating the funding of illegal organisations, the Special Criminal Court heard today.

The court was told that in follow-up searches in Cork gardaí found an investment bond for €50,000 and a sweet tin containing £870 (€1,300) at the chef’s home.

At another house in Cork detectives also found £60,000 (€91,600) in Northern notes in 12 bundles.

Don Bullman (aged 32), a chef and father of two of Fernwood Crescent, Leghanamore, Wilton, Co Cork, has denied membership of an illegal organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the IRA, on February 16, 2005.

Today, on the opening day of the trial, Mr George Birmingham SC, prosecuting, said that gardaí carried out a surveillance operation at Heuston Station on February 16, 2005, and saw Bullman carrying a rucksack outside the station.

He was seen getting into a jeep containing two other men. The jeep then drove to a car park at the rear of the station, where gardaí approached it.

Bullman was in the back seat. There was a large red box beside him on the seat and Bullman told gardaí it contained toys. After Bullman and the two other men, both from Derry, were arrested, gardaí examined the box, which was a Daz washing powder box.

They found €94,250 in three bundles, each bundle wrapped in cloth. The box had been refilled with washing powder after the money was put inside.

During seven interviews at Clondalkin Garda Station, Bullman denied membership of an illegal organisation and denied any knowledge of the box with the money.

The court held a minute’s silence before the trial in memory of Mr Justice Diarmuid O’ Donovan who died at the weekend. Mr Justice O’ Donovan had been a member of the Special Criminal Court since 2000.

The trial is continuing and is expected to last four weeks.