A 39-year-old man who was caught with six hundred and seventy thousand Euro in cash while on bail for money laundering and firearms offences has been jailed for ten years.
Gerard Hayes of College Lawn, Cobh, county Cork pleaded guilty to over twenty charges including the possession of cocaine for sale or supply and possession of ammunition and silencers.
The court previously heard over 62,000 euro in cash was found in a rented shed in Cobh ten days before Gardai intercepted Hayes with what he described as his ‘life savings’ in Dublin.
A search of Hayes’ home also uncovered items including 234 rounds of ammunition, two silencers and pepper spray. An €86,000 house boat was also later discovered and seized.
Judge Helen Boyle described Hayes as a ‘serious player in the sale, supply and distribution of drugs in East Cork’ and commended Gardaí in Cobh and Midleton.
Defence barrister Jane Hyland said Hayes was remorseful and upset at the position he put his family in. Ms Hyland said he is resolved to not ever again engage in criminality.
