A Limerick ice cream van man has been jailed for money laundering
A choose has handed down a five-year and four-month jail sentence for cash laundering on a convicted drug supplier who made a residing promoting whipped ice cream to youngsters from his ice cream truck.
At Ennis Circuit Court docket, Decide Francis Comerford imposed a 64-month jail sentence on “new father” Paul Collopy (48) from Limerick, after he pleaded responsible “at a really late stage” to a €16,695 cash laundering offence, which was Proceeds of crime have been present in an deserted automobile on the grounds of Carnley Home close to the village of Clarecastle, County Clare, on November 24, 2020.
Gardaí recognized Mr Collopy because the offender after they matched Mr Collopy’s DNA pattern from a transparent bag containing some money recovered from the 99 CE automobile.
As proof, Detective Sergeant Dennis Stack stated that the day earlier than, Mr Collopy had been seen fiddling contained in the bonnet of a automobile.
Det Sgt Stack stated that when Gardaí returned to the scene on November 24 with a search warrant, they discovered one other man in possession of 1 kilo of hashish and one other kilo of cannabis within the automobile.
Det Stack stated Mr Collopy saved horses on land in Carnelly “and had entry to the lands for agricultural functions”.
Mr Collopy’s barrister, Pat Barriscale BL, acknowledged that his particular directions from Mr Collopy of Childers Rd, Cloughleigh, Ennis, have been that medication had nothing to do together with his shopper.
Mr. Bariscal acknowledged that Mr. Collopy “insists that he had nothing to do with medication and particularly orders me to make that time clear.”
Nonetheless, in sentencing, Decide Comerford stated he was happy that the €16,965 was linked to the drug seizure on the similar location, and this positioned cash laundering at a better degree of offence.
Decide Comerford acknowledged that he was happy that €16,965 had been obtained from drug dealing and that Mr Collopy had turn out to be concerned in “very severe prison exercise”.
On the similar court docket in July final 12 months, Decide Comerford imposed a compulsory minimal 10-year jail sentence underneath medication laws on Mr Collopy.
Decide Comerford imposed the 10-year jail sentence after gardaí caught Mr Collopy “red-handed” with €50,780 of hashish on the grounds of Carnelly Home in April 2021.
Decide Comerford deferred that ruling to April 2021 when Mr Collopy was first introduced into Garda custody.
Mr Collopy won’t serve any additional time in jail for the brand new cash laundering offense in November 2020, with Decide Comerford saying his 64-month sentence will run concurrently with the present ten-year time period.
Mr Collopy is because of be launched from jail after his 10-year jail time period in 2028, the court docket was advised.
From a “good household” in Limerick, Collopy used to personal two ice cream vans on the highway earlier than returning to the medication scene in the course of the final decade.
Mr. Bariscal acknowledged that Mr. Collopy is the daddy of two youngsters, one in all whom is 23 years outdated and the opposite is just two years outdated.
Mr. Bariscal acknowledged that Mr. Collopy has a “horrible report” and “retains his head down and bides his time.”
Mr. Bariscal acknowledged that his shopper is eager to not prolong this time in any means. He stated Mr. Collopy had a younger little one and would haven’t any enter into that kid’s life till he was launched.
Det Sgt Stack advised the court docket Mr Collopy had 81 earlier convictions, together with 43 for highway site visitors, three for theft, 10 for public order, 4 for assault, three for prison harm, two for threatening to kill, two for cash laundering, and 4 for assault. Drug trafficking crimes.
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