An unemployed Ennis man was unable to convince a judge that the €26,000 he received for the ‘third speed infantry’ was the source of his funding. Buy a Toyota Jeep for €43,000 cash on €50 banknotes.
In Ennis District Court, Judge Mary Larkin has rejected a new bid by Ned Dougherty, 32, of Ennis, Ballymarie, Goat Road, St. Michaels Park to return Gardai a 20-2 Toyota Hilux Jeep.
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 10 days later, on March 5, 2021, he was involved in the wider Operation Garda, which also involved the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB). seized as part of
Drafting a “police property application” for the return of the Jeep, lawyer Darrag Hassett said the €26,000 received by Mr. On January 4, 2021, he made a cash transaction with Goatman Thomas Donovan toward the purchase of 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, the purchase must be from criminal proceeds,'” Hassett said. They say no money is wasted.”
Hassett said €8,000 and €3,000 were withdrawn from the accounts of Doherty’s two sons prior to the purchase.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.
Sergeant Aiden Lonergan asked for the application to be denied because, after a complex investigation, the files are in the DPP.
Sergeant Lonergan said it was the first time Gardai had been presented with documents on 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 evidence of the funding Doherty 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. ”