Cavan resident in money laundering trial

By Jessica Magee

Two men - one of whom has a Cavan address - have gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court accused of possessing over €44,000 in laundered money.

The court heard the pair was stopped at Dublin Airport when customs sniffer dogs detected cash in their luggage.

They told gardaí they had saved up the money from work and were on their way to Amsterdam to buy used cars.

Deividas Petrauskas (31), of Oak Manor, Drumgola Woods, Co Cavan, denied possessing €44,550 in cash as the proceeds of crime on October 15, 2010. Audronis Bieliauskas (28) of Crosby Road, Forest Gate, London in the UK, pleaded not guilty to the same charge.

Opening the trial, Dominic McGinn SC, prosecuting, said the cash was discovered by customs officers in a number of bundles wrapped in clothing in Mr Beiliauskas' luggage.

Mr Beiliauskas had travelled from London and planned to go onward to Holland via Dublin.

When questioned by gardaí at Dublin Airport, he said Mr Petrauskas had given him the money so that they could buy used cars in Amsterdam and deal in them.

Mr Petrauskas told gardaí the money was legitimate earnings and that he had saved it up from his work.

The trial will resume tomorrow (Friday) before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury of five women and seven men.