Court urged not to jail sister of gang 'patriarch' over €124k found in attic

A sister of convicted drug dealer and gang "patriarch" Christy Keane, who was caught with €124k in crime cash in her attic, was told by her husband that tens of thousands of euro in her bank accounts had come from "gambling", the Special Criminal Court has heard.

Sandra Hehir's defence counsel asked the court on Monday to suspend all or a significant part of any sentence it imposes.

Hehir, aged 56, with an address at Assumpta Park, Island Road, Limerick city, pleaded guilty in October before the non-jury court to laundering the money at her home in June 2020.

She pleaded guilty that on June 17, 2020, at the same address she handled, acquired and/or possessed cash to the value of €124,055, knowing or believing (or being reckless as to whether) property in the said premises was the proceeds of criminal conduct.

The charge came under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Monday Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010.

At the Special Criminal Court, defence counsel Padraig Dwyer SC said Hehir had been told by her now-deceased husband that the money that went through her accounts had come from gambling.

However, she accepted that, “in all probability”, it had been the proceeds of crime. Mr Dwyer said his client denied any criminal involvement, had entered a guilty plea and had expressed her regret.

Counsel said a probation report for Hehir, who has no previous convictions, was a “positive” one and that she had no impediments such as mental health or addiction issues.

Counsel said Sandra Hehir was now “predominantly estranged from her siblings and works as a hairdresser”.

Mr Dwyer said his client had letters of reference describing her as a “valuable staff member who is a good person and who was co-operative with the probation service”.

Counsel said the probation service found it “unlikely that Sandra Hehir would be in this position again” and that if the court is going to suspend all or some of her sentence, it “could take comfort in that rehabilitation appears to have been achieved”.

Mr Dwyer asked the court to suspend all or a significant part of any sentence imposed, adding that his client had never been before a court before and that it would be “a great shock and surprise if she ever got into trouble again”.

Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, presiding at the three-judge court, adjourned the matter to Monday, February 26, for sentence finalisation.

At a previous hearing, Fiona Murphy SC, prosecuting, told the court that five other counts of money laundering could be taken into consideration.

The barrister said that a nolle prosequi - a  decision not to prosecute - will be entered on three other counts.