THE arrest of a Limerick City couple on money-laundering charges has been described by Gardaí as a significant development in an ongoing operation against organised crime in Limerick.
Dermot McManus (51) and Terese Halpin (49) appeared before a the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday after Gardaí executed a warrant at their home in Keating Park, Killalee.
Mr McManus was charged with handling €28,550 and £17,240 in cash, knowing or believing or being reckless as to whether it was the proceeds of criminal conduct on June 17, 2020, and allowing an account at the Limerick and District Credit Union to be used for the purposes of handling the proceeds of crime.
He was also charged with possession of a stolen Ford Transit van between August 10, 2019 and June 12, 2020; and with handling a Mercedes Sprinter van between June 2, 2020 and May 23, 2021.
Ms Halpin was charged with possession of the same cash sums on June 17 2020, and allowing a Permanent TSB account to be used for handling the proceeds of crime between January 17, 2019, and June 10, 2020.
Garda Enda Farrell told State Solicitor Michael O’Donovan that he arrested Ms Halpin on Friday evening at her home address on foot of a warrant. He handed her a copy of the charge sheet in the Criminal Courts of Justice building in Dublin, shortly before the hearing.
Garda John Sheahan said he arrested Mr McManus at the same time and place before handing him the charge sheet in the Criminal Courts of Justice today. The three-judge court heard that neither accused made any response to their arrest or caution.
Dermot McManus was remanded in custody pending a bail hearing on Tuesday, January 11.
Terese Halpin was granted bail to appear before the Special Criminal Court in Dublin on Friday, February 18 after she undertook to surrender her passport, provide Gardaí with her phone number, and sign on from Monday to Friday at a local Garda Station.
