*Ennis Courthouse. Photograph: John Mangan
THREE MEMBERS OF AN Ennis family appeared in court on Friday charged with organised crime offences.
At Ennis District Court, three members of the Doherty family of St Michael’s Park, Ballymaley, Ennis appeared in court charged with participating in a criminal organsiation.
In total five members of the wider Doherty family were arrested, charged and brought before Ennis District Court this week.
In a planned operation, Gardai arrived at St Michael’s Park, Ballymaley on Ennis’s Galway Rd shortly after 8am and arrested the five with three later charged at Ennis Garda Station and two charged at Shannon Garda Station.
Sgt Louis Moloney told the court that all cases are to proceed by indictment to be tried at the circuit court and that Books of Evidence are to be prepared.
In the case, Michael Doherty (62), Ned Doherty (32) and Jonny Doherty (26) all of St Michael’s Park, Ballymaley, Ennis are each charged with participating or contributing to a criminal organisation and such participation could facilitate the commission of a serious offence by the criminal organisation under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 on dates up to March 5th 2021.
Ned Doherty is also charged with on February 24th 2021 at Dermot Hughes Cars, Athlone Rd, Ardsallagh More, Roscommon of engaging in possessing €43,000 in cash knowing that the money was the proceeds of criminal conduct, contrary to Section 7 of Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act).
Ned Doherty is also charged with on three different dates from August 18th 2018 to June 12th 2020 having at St Francis Credit Union, Friar’s Walk, Ennis a cumulative €18,250 that he knew to be the proceeds of criminal conduct, contrary to Section 7 of Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act).
In evidence of arrest, charge and caution, Det Garda Aoife O’Malley said that Ned Doherty said in response to caution “I have nothing to say. What can I really say?”
Maryiln O’Driscoll Doherty (32) is facing seven separate alleged money laundering charges concerning a cumulative €34,420 at Gurranbraher Credit Union, Bakers Rd, Cork on dates from June 16th 2014 to August 7th 2019, knowing that the money was the proceeds of criminal conduct contrary to Section 7 of Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act 2021.
A fifth accused, Kathleen Doherty (54) of St Michael’s Park, Ballymaley, Ennis faces a single charge at Low Rd, Bunratty, Co Clare of having in her possession a reciprocating saw with the intention that it be used in course of theft under Section 4 of Criminal Justice Act.
Legal aid was granted to solicitors, Daragh Hassett and Shiofra Hasset to represent all five in the case.
Sgt Louis Moloney said that Gardai had no objection to conditional bail for the five and all five were remanded on bail to appear before Ennis District to a date in September.
