Cork man had €15,590 in cash tied up with hair bobble

Man who pleaded guilty to money laundering given suspended sentence

The court heard the man had a drugs debt and was selling cannabis for another person.

A man wearing a ponytail in the dock at Cork Circuit Criminal Court was sentenced for money laundering in respect of €15,590 in cash that was tied up with a hair bobble.

Mathew Dwyer, aged 33, of Hyde’s Park, Ballinacurra, Midleton, Co Cork, pleaded guilty to money laundering in respect of the cash which was found by gardaí when a warrant was executed to carry out a search.

Cannabis was also found wrapped in 68 separate packages with a total street value of €8,900. Cash totalling €15,590 was wrapped with a hair bobble.

Judge Helen Boyle said to the accused: “You were actively involved in the sale or supply of drugs in the East Cork area. You were selling for another person. You had a very small debt. You did not have the trappings of wealth. You have not come to garda attention since.

“You were actively involved in the sale or supply of cannabis. Cannabis is a dangerous drug which can kickstart psychosis in young people.

“In terms of mitigating factors, you saved the State the time and expense of a trial and saved witnesses having to come to court.

“Urinalysis shows that you are abstaining from cannabis. Your parents were taken aback by your activities.

“But now I am told you have a job, you are working, you have shown you can be a productive member of society.” 

Measuring the sentence at three years the judge then said: “The question is, does that have to be an immediate custodial sentence? You have not come to garda attention before or since. I will suspend the three-year sentence.” 

The judge warned Mr Dwyer that any further offending could result in this three-year suspended sentence being imposed.