https://www.echolive.ie/corknews/arid-41257906.html
A 37-year-old Dubliner accused of money-laundering in Cork city where he was spotted picking up money from a known drug-dealer has been given a six-month jail term.
Paul Geraghty of 23 Swan Grove, Ranealagh, Dublin, pleaded guilty to the offence at Cork District Court where judge Joanne Carroll imposed the jail term.
The Director of Public Prosecutions directed that the case could only proceed summarily at district court level on a plea of guilty.
The accused man considered that issue with his solicitor, Eddie Burke, when the case was back in court a plea of guilty was indicated.
Detective Garda Jerome Murphy charged the Dubliner with money-laundering by engaging in concealing the source of property that was the proceeds of criminal conduct, namely €1,460, being reckless as to whether it was the proceeds of crime.
Sergeant John Kelleher said that on April 28, gardaí from Cork City divisional drugs unit had a surveillance operation in place on the accused.
Sgt. Kelleher said, “He was observed walking into Cork city centre and hanging around the area. He was then observed meeting a convicted Cork city based drug-dealer on St. Patrick’s Street.
“He was observed handing an item to this convicted drug dealer. Gardaí then saw the drug dealer handing Mr Geraghty what they believed to be money.
“His movements were kept under observation and [he] was seen walking on Merchants Quay onto Brian Boru Bridge and Lower Glanmire Road, where he was stopped by gardaí.
"During the course of the search, €1,460 in cash and an Alcatel mobile phone were recovered.”
Judge Carroll made an order forfeiting the cash to the state.
Mr Burke said the father of three was serving a longer sentence for a similar offence that was dealt with at the circuit court.
He said the Dubliner had put his time in custody to good use doing a number of courses.