Man who hid €33k behind washing machine in Cork house pleads guilty to charges

Signed guilty pleas were entered yesterday in a case where vacuum-packed cash totalling over €33,000 was found hidden behind a washing machine and €160,000 worth of cannabis was uncovered in the attic of a rented house in Carrigaline earlier this year.

Defence solicitor Eddie Burke indicated that the accused man, Gytis Pyplys, aged 36, was pleading guilty to the charges against him.

The case was sent forward from Cork District Court for sentencing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court once the pleas of guilty were signed.

The accused was remanded in custody until the sessions of the circuit court commencing on April 28.

He was charged with having the eight kilos of cannabis for sale or supply at his home, and money-laundering in respect of €33,600.

The drugs charges include one related to drugs for sale or supply where the street value exceeds €13,000, which can carry a 10-year minimum sentence unless the judge finds that there are exceptional circumstances.

Searched

Detective Garda Dermot Crowley previously stated in this case: “We searched this address and found eight kilogrammes of cannabis with an approximate street value of €160,000.

“This was recovered from his bedroom and the attic directly accessed from his bedroom.

“We found €33,600 in cash, which was vacuum-packed and hidden behind a washing machine in the kitchen.

“Also in the house there was a vacuum-packing machine and bags and a diary containing information in relation to tick-lists and corresponding cash amounts. There was a separate section in the corner of the tick-list corresponding to the €33,600.

“He said he had placed cannabis in the attic and recovered one kilo and stored this in his bedroom. He said he hid the money behind the washing machine and acknowledged providing gardaí with a false name and address with the intention of disguising his activities.”

Elaine Audley, defence barrister, said previously that the accused had a drug addiction and was holding the seized items for a third party. The defendant gave evidence in his application for bail, saying that he started taking drugs in Ireland one year ago and became addicted. He said he wanted to get bail so that he could get treatment for this.