Man who played 'important role' in laundering proceeds of crime is jailed

Sonya McLean

A man who played “an active and important role in laundering the proceeds of crime” has been jailed for two and a half years.

Robert Gaffeny (27) of Pinewood Green Road, Balbriggan, Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two charges of money laundering, committed between July and September 2023, in relation to a bank account and a Revolut account.

Miranda Egan-Langley BL, prosecuting, told the court that confidential information led gardaí to apply for an order to obtain information in relation to both accounts in April and May 2024.

It was discovered that €31,384 passed through his bank account between March and September 2023, with money being deposited and numerous withdrawals being made from various ATMs around Dublin city.

A further €12,618 was moved through Gaffney’s Revolut account, and again money was deposited and then transferred via electronic fund transfers to various individuals.

Further investigation confirmed that Gaffney was in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance at the time and had no legitimate source of income.

He was arrested and interviewed in July 2024. He took responsibility for both accounts and said he had provided his account details to another individual in order to pay off a drug debt.

Gaffney has 45 previous convictions for offences including drug dealing, stealing cars, theft and criminal damage.

Aisling Ginger-Quinn BL defending said her client had a tough childhood and became addicted to drugs at a very young age.

She said he has learning difficulties and left school at 15 years old. He has an eight-year-old child.

Judge Orla Crowe said that drugs seemed to be underpinning Gaffney’s involvement in this offence, but she said he played “an active role and an important role in terms of laundering the proceeds of crime”

“He took that risk because he had amassed a drug debt,” Judge Crowe said. She said a headline sentence of four years was warranted before she imposed a term of three years with the final six months suspended on strict conditions.