Man living in council house caught with €620k in money laundered cash

Olivia Kelleher

A man who was living in a council house removed his “life savings” of over €600,000 from his safety deposit box and put it in the boot of his car only to be stopped by gardaí and charged with money laundering, a court has heard.

Gerard Hayes of College Lawn, Cobh, Co Cork was on bail when he was arrested by gardaí at Mespil Road in Dublin on February 20th, 2024.

At that time Mr Hayes (39) was being investigated by garda in relation to money laundering, drug dealing and possession of ammunition.

The evidence given by gardai at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday, was that the father of three claimed that the money, which was wrapped in vacuum packs and duct tape, came from an inheritance, his regular job, and what he called “foxers” or “all cash jobs|” he did on the side.

Dt Sgt Eugene McCarthy said that the tree surgeon, who worked three to four days a week and often did not carry out his job for months at a time, claimed that there was €620,000 in the car.

However, in fact Hayes, who was paying just €200.00 a month in rent for his council property, had €50,000 more than he realised.

Det Sgt McCarthy said that the way the money was wrapped and marked bore “all the hallmarks of drug dealing.”

When gardaí subsequently carried out a search of the home of Mr Hayes in Cobh they found €10,050 in cash in the hot press.

Meanwhile, Garda James McCarthy gave evidence that Hayes had been previously arrested as part of a targeted operation on February 10th, 2024 at Ballydaniel in Ballymore, Cobh, Co Cork.

On that occasion he was found to be in possession of  €62,800 in cash.

Gardaí stopped Mr Hayes as he left a shed he was renting in Cobh. Mr Hayes had installed a sophisticated state of the art alarm system at the shed which he was able to monitor remotely.

During a search of the shed gardaí found the monies concealed in timber blocks under tarpaulin in the shed. CCTV was seized from the scene. Mr Hayes was captured on the footage counting the money and placing it in the blocks.

A search of his home in Cobh was carried out following this arrest.

Gardaí discovered 234 rounds of ammunition, a silencer rifle, pepper spray, 1,376 rifle primers and eight containers of gunpowder. The majority of the items were found in the attic.

A valuation for a boat was also located at the property. A house boat worth €86,000, which was funded by criminality was subsequently found and seized at the the East Ferry in Cobh.

During his garda interview Hayes said that the €62,800 in cash seized was earned via ‘foxers.’ He denied any involvement in the sale and supply of cocaine.

Det Garda McCarthy said that the accused had had his firearms licence revoked in 2022. At the time of his arrest he was appealing this decision.

Two hair brushes were also found in his possession on this occasion. The brushes had been modified to hide close to €3,000 worth of cocaine.

Mr Hayes was arrested for a third time on May 5th, 2024 after he had secured High Court bail.

Garda Dylan Murphy said in evidence that gardaí intercepted a car driven by Mr Hayes in Cobh, Co Cork.

A deodorant canister was found in the glove box of the car. It had been modified and contained 27 bags of cocaine worth €1,407 as well as €450.000 in cash. The vehicle he was driving was seized as the proceeds of crime.

Judge Helen Boyle was informed that the Revenue Service had indicated that Hayes made a total income of €245,892 over a twenty year period from 2002 to 2024 for his legal work.

Mr Hayes offered no material assistance to gardai during the course of all of his garda interviews.

Defence counsel Jane Hyland, SC, said that her client was remorseful for his behaviour and had entered signed pleas of guilty. She stated that he felt guilty that his wife was now relying on social welfare payments.

“He is very stressed and upset at the position he has put his family in. He is resolved to not ever again engage in criminality.”

Ms Hyland said that Mr Hayes was taken in to care at a young age and left school when he was just 12 years old.

She stated that he had a good job history which included work abroad as a diving instructor and a period in the Royal Marines.  She said that her client had suffered from drug addiction and was doing well in custody.

The value of cash, cars, a boat and other property that was deemed to be the proceeds of criminal conduct reached a total of €745,000. Judge Boyle made a forfeiture order to the state in relation to these items.

Mr Hayes was remanded in custody for the finalisation of sentencing on July 2nd next.

The defendant pleaded guilty to charges including the possession of cocaine for sale or supply and possession of large quantities of ammunition and silencers for firearms.

He also pleaded guilty to charges related to drugs and money-laundering. In total he pleaded guilty to over 20 charges.