A FORMER couple who were accused of having €32,960 cash, which it was alleged they knew to be the proceeds of crime, have been acquitted of the charges at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.
Raymond Collopy (55), of St Munchin’s Street, St Mary’s Park, Limerick, and his former partner, Ciara Bradshaw (43), of Sarsfield Avenue, Upper Pennywell, Garryowen, Limerick, had both entered not guilty pleas ahead of the opening day of their trial last Tuesday.
The trial heard that Gardaí found €30,000 in cash wrapped in a sock in a drawer in Ms Bradshaw’s home, and €3,000 in cash in a wallet at the property.
Ms Bradshaw told Gardaí that the money in the sock belonged to Mr Collopy, and that the money in the wallet was for a holiday the two were planning to take in Benidorm, the court heard.
Prosecution barrister John O’Sullivan told the jury that the prosecution alleged that Mr Collopy and Ms Bradshaw were each in possession of €32,960 at Ms Bradshaw’s address on April 15, 2019, and that the cash was “alleged to be the proceeds of criminal conduct”.
“It is alleged the two accused each knew the money to have been the proceeds of crime, or they were reckless as to the cash being the proceeds of criminal conduct,” Mr O’Sullivan said.
When Gardaí called to Ms Bradshaw’s home with a search warrant, she showed them the cash and said it was “belonging to my boyfriend”.
The wallet containing €3,000 was found beside two passports belonging to Ms Bradshaw and Mr Collopy.
A Garda gave evidence that the money in the sock was vacuum packed in three bundles and amounted to approximately €30,000.
The Garda had asked Ms Bradshaw why she was in possession of the money and she allegedly replied that Mr Collopy had asked her to look after it while his house was empty as he was away on a fishing trip.
‘Thanks to ye’
Detective Garda Declan O’Halloran told the court that he arrested Mr Collopy on May 16, 2019.
During the interview, the court heard, Mr Collopy told Gardaí that he had a credit union account for many years and had borrowed €4,000 the previous November for “Christmas stuff for my kids”, and for money for the Benidorm holiday.
He told Gardaí that he and Ms Bradshaw were no longer in a relationship now, “thanks to ye”.
Asked about the larger sums found in the sock, he said these were proceeds of the sale of a boat and a car which he owned.
Asked what his income was, he said that he was being paid disability and that he had won various sums of money in fishing competitions.
He said the money did not belong to Ms Bradshaw.
The jury of seven women and five men found each of the accused not guilty and they were acquitted on all charges.
