‘trusted’ | 

Woman caught moving €42k of crime cash in her car ‘was stooge’ for gang

€42,430 in cash was found in a Base pizza bag in the front passenger side of the car.

Eimear Dodd

Today at 20:46

A woman who was transporting over €42,000, which were the proceeds of crime, was a “stooge” for others, a court has heard.

Dorothy Roe (37) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of possession of the proceeds of crime on May 5, 2022. She has three previous convictions for minor road traffic offences.

Defence counsel Barry Ward BL told the court his client became involved in criminality to help repay her brother’s drug debt and due to her own addiction at the time. He suggested she was a “stooge” for others who were confident she would do their bidding.

The court heard today that gardaí put in place a surveillance operation of Roe after receiving confidential information. On the day in question, they observed Roe travel to a number of properties in Lucan and Clondalkin driving a 142 Audi car.

Gardaí saw Roe go to an address in Clondalkin, where a third party was seen coming out of a house and taking a rucksack and jacket from the car.

Roe was stopped by gardaí at around 5.30pm after travelling to the Bluebell area. €42,430 in cash was found in a Base pizza bag in the front passenger side of the car.

Roe was arrested and interviewed four times. She accepted she was in possession of the money and that it was the proceeds of crime, saying she had been reckless.

Roe was also the registered owner of a 141 Hyundai car, with an estimated value of around €10,000 to €12,000. When gardaí searched it, they found a retrofitted concealed area in its boot.

Mr Ward said his client is a carer for her son and her mother. She experienced a period of homelessness, but now has stable accommodation.

Roe is in remission for breast cancer. A number of references and a letter of apology were handed to the court.

Mr Ward said his client comes from a “well-regarded family” who have no history of involvement in this type of activity. He also noted that she had addiction issues at the time, but has since detoxed.

Judge Berkeley said it appeared that Roe was a “trusted person” in a “sophisticated” scheme for the transportation of money. She directed the preparation of a probation report and adjourned the case to July 8 for finalisation.