‘Holy Bible’ used to conceal €14,000 in cash, Cork court hears

‘The Holy Bible’ was printed on the cover of a locked box found by gardaí searching a house in Cork City, and when officers opened it, they uncovered bundles of cash wrapped in plastic totalling €14,000, a court has heard.

A Brazilian national working in Cork as an electrician has now admitted laundering €14,000 in cash which was the proceeds of criminal activity, and he has been given a jail term, which was suspended on his undertaking to leave the country.

Judge Helen Boyle imposed a prison term of two years and eight months, suspended on condition that he would leave the country immediately.

Vitor Paulino, aged 31, with an address at an apartment at Rockgrove Terrace, Lower Glanmire Road, Cork, signed a plea of guilty to a money-laundering charge.

The charge relates to February 11, 2025, at a house at Gerald Griffin Street, Blackpool, Cork, where the €14,000 in cash was seized and deemed to be the proceeds of criminal conduct.

Detective Garda Michael Abernethy said that there was a search of the defendant’s property on that date in February last year and the locked box was found in the bedroom of the accused man.

Vitor Paulino was not present at the time of the search, but he subsequently made full admissions to money laundering.

Prosecution barrister Mary O’Dwyer said the defendant had no previous convictions of any kind. Defence barrister, Carmel Goggin, said the defendant handed over his phone to gardaí and co-operated with the investigation, adding: “He had been here as a student. He went home during covid and returned to Ireland in May/June 2024. He came here to earn a living as an electrician but found himself in and out of employment.

“He is remorseful. I would say he was an easy target to become a money mule.”

Noting that the accused had confirmation of a flight to leave the country, Judge Helen Boyle said she would suspend the sentence.