Two Williamstown Halting Site residents found guilty of money laundering

Two residents of the Williamstown Halting Site in Waterford were each found guilty of one count of money laundering by a jury, when their case was heard at Waterford Circuit Criminal Court.

James and Nora O’Reilly,of (Unofficial) Bay 2,  were handed the verdict by a jury last week at Waterford Circuit Court.

In February 2021, a large number of gardaí entered the halting site to execute search warrants on a number of properties, including the residence of the accused.

Inside their caravan, a sock containing €26,415 in cash and ten alprazolam tablets was found. The prosecution alleged that the money was the proceeds of criminal conduct, namely drug dealing.

The residence of James and Nora O’Reilly’s daughter was also searched, where weighing scales, deal bags and 130 alprazolam tablets were found.

Additionally, a large container at the site was searched. Inside, a recess was dug underneath the floor which contained a large amount of cannabis and alprazolam.

The prosecution also detailed to the jury, that a prior search which was carried out at the halting site in November 2020. During that time, the residence of James and Nora O’Reilly’s son was searched, where “wads of cash” were found stuffed into a fire blanket. Alprazolam tablets were also found at the residence.

In Gardaí interviews, explaining where the €26,415 came from, Nora O’Reilly said it was given to her by the partner of her cousin.

That individual told An Garda Siochana that she gave Nora O’Reilly the money to temporarily hold. She further disclosed to the authorities that she did not have employment and that the substantial sum of cash was accrued through various injury claims from previous years.

She provided gardaí with a solicitors letter confirming that both herself and her partner received €7,000 each in 2018 as compensation for a traffic accident, and that she had received €48,000 for a trip and fall accident in 2017.

When asked about the ten alprazolam tablets that were found mixed in the cash, she said they belonged to her partner.

During Nora O’Reilly’s garda interview, she was asked if she believed that the money handed to her was the proceeds of crime, to which she replied: “It never occurred to me”. She added: “There’s no drug dealing around my place”, and said she agreed to hold the money for her cousin’s partner because: “I’m a good friend and she trusts me”. 

She added: “I was only doing a favour, I won’t do it again.” 

In his closing argument, State Prosecutor Conor O’Doherty BL, referred to the drugs found within the cash, saying the expiry date and batch number were identical to the drugs found in the cabin of James and Nora O’Reilly’s daughter. 

He asked the jury: “Is that an incredible coincidence, or is it a clear and obvious link?” In further alleging that the money was the proceeds of drug dealing, Mr. O’ Doherty referred to the two weighing scales found in the O'Reilly's daughter’s cabin, saying: “They’re not like scales you would have in your kitchen.” Referring to the deal bags found there, he said: “They are not for putting your kids lunch in”.

He added that both defendants lied when they claimed to be unaware of any drug dealing taking place at the site, saying: "They know the source of the money is criminal conduct”.

Mr. William Fitzgerald BL, defence council for James O’Reilly, said in his closing that all “evidence in relation to the 2020 search is irrelevant". He remarked that the prosecution insinuated that the two defendants “were some type of criminal masterminds at the top chain of criminal behaviour.” Following this statement, Mr. Fitzgerald requested both defendants to rise before the jury and posed the question: "Do they look like criminal masterminds to you? Clearly not the case”.

Defense for Nora O’Reilly, Gareth Hayden BL, told the jury that prosecution’s evidence “jumps all over the place”. He further emphasised that the prosecution was asking the jury “to view James and Nora on what was allegedly was done by their children.” He added that there is certain scientific evidence that wasn’t provided to the jury, such as DNA or fingerprints. After approximately an hour of deliberation, the jury found both James and Nora O’Reilly guilty of money laundering.