*A new bid by Ned Dougherty to have Gardai return the 202 Jeep has been rejected.
Unemployed Ennis man convinces judge that €26,000 received for ‘three-speed infantry’ raised funds to buy Toyota Jeep for €43,000 cash in €50 notes I couldn’t.
At Ennis District Court, Judge Mary Larkin announced a new bid by Ned Dougherty, 32, of St. Michael’s Park, Ballymarie, Goat Road, Ennis, to return Gardai a 20-2 Toyota Hilux Jeep. was rejected.
Judge Larkin said he was “more confused than ever” after hearing about the various amounts of money Doherty allegedly used to buy the Jeep.
Judge Larkin said the evidence from Mr. Doherty was a mixture of “I don’t know,” “I don’t remember,” and “he didn’t deal with money.”
Mr. Dougherty purchased the Jeep for cash from a Roscommon car dealership on February 23, 2021, but on March 5, 2021, as part of the wider Operation Garda, which also involved the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). , the jeep was seized.
Drafting a “police property application” for the return of the Jeep, lawyer Darrag Hassett said the €26,000 Mr Doherty received was “three trotting horses” broken and sullen and ready to race. ” could be put in a €50 note for the horse. On January 4, 2021, I will make a deal with Goatman Thomas Donovan to purchase a Jeep. In testimony in court, Mr. Donovan admitted to the deal.
Hassett said the “Three Trotters” deal was based on “thanks to a handshake, there was no bill.”
As evidence, Doherty told the court, “We are travelers and we like to do business with cash.”
When Mr. Hassett asked if there were any “dangers” about the money with which he bought the Jeep, Mr. Dougherty said “no.” When Mr. Hassett asked, “Is it all on board?” ’ he replied.
Hassett said the Jeep was funded through savings, the sale of a mobile home, and personal injury compensation to Doherty and his wife, Marilyn.
Hassett said his client had given up the Jeep for two years, and Doherty said, “No charges have been filed, as far as I can see, no action. The silence is deafening.”
Hassett said Doherty won a personal injury award of €10,100 in 2011 and another €1,000 in 2012.
Doherty’s wife, Marilyn, received two personal injury claims totaling €15,000 in 2012 and 2014, Hassett said.
“The state is telling my client, ‘You have no money, you’re on social services, they’re saying the purchase must be from criminal proceeds,'” Hassett said. She says no money is wasted.”
Hassett said €8,000 and €3,000 were also withdrawn from the accounts of Doherty’s two sons prior to the purchase.
He said he received a further €12,000 from the sale of one horse in addition to the €26,000 sale of three trotters in October 2020.
Sgt Aiden Lonergan requested that the application be rejected due to the presence of complex post-search files in the DPP.
Sergeant Lonergan said it was the first time Gardai had been presented with documents regarding the source of the €43,000 Jeep’s funding since the Jeep was seized.
Rejecting Mr Doherty’s bid to return the Jeep, Judge Larkin said, “Insufficient information is available to support your application.”
Judge Larkin said he was “unsatisfied with the evidence I’ve heard supporting the return of the Jeep.”
Regarding the evidence of Doherty’s funds provided to the court, Judge Larkin said: 10 years. In 2013 he had €1,000 hidden somewhere for his 8 years, and in 2013 he had €25,000 hidden somewhere for his 8 years. ”
