Taxi driver forfeits €100k to State

A Dublin Circuit Court judge has ordered that over €100,000 seized from a Tallaght taxi driver as part of a garda investigation into drug dealing be handed over to the State.

Judge Desmond Hogan approved an application by Mr Dominic McGinn BL, counsel for the State, requesting that €114, 971 found in the possession of Mr Bernard Fitzsimons (aged 28), of Glenshave Grove, Tallaght be deemed the proceeds of criminal activity and be forfeit to the Exchequer.

Counsel for the accused, Mr Lorcan Staines BL, made no objection to the application.

Mr McGinn told the court that members of the garda national drug unit intercepted Fitzsimons as he attempted to flee the scene of a major drug deal.

Gardai had observed Fitzsimons drive his taxi into the car park of a business known as the truck wash in Greenogue Business Park, Rathcoole at 8.55pm on September 1, 2009.

Detectives had already seized a large quantity of cannabis resin from a white van which had driven in to the truck wash approximately half an hour before Fitzsimons’ arrival.

After securing a warrant to search his home, gardai discovered 247g of cocaine and €116,000 in cash in an upstairs bedroom.

In interview Fitzsimons, who has six previous convictions, admitted responsibility for the drugs and the cash in his possession, and told gardai that he was holding both on behalf of other parties.

Approving the application, Judge Hogan also ordered that €1,029 be returned to Fitzsimons.