*Members of An Garda Síochána and the Armed Support Unit carrying out a raid in Ballymaley in June 2023.
TWO MEMBERS of an Ennis family today (Tuesday) denied participating or contributing to the activities of a criminal organisation.
Before a jury panel at Ennis Circuit Court on Tuesday, Michael Doherty Snr (63) and Ned Doherty (33) denied the charge on dates from November 2020 to March 5th 2021.
Counsel for the State, Sarah Jane Comerford BL (instructed by Clare State Solicitor, Aisling Casey) told the court that the criminal activity that the accused are suspected of engaging in is the theft of catalytic converters.
Ms Comerford told the jury panel that the case will take two weeks and may spill into a third week.
Ms Comerford stated that the alleged offences occurred at various locations throughout the county of Clare.
Ms Comerford listed over 55 Gardaí, including a number with senior rank, who will be called as witnesses in the case while a number of civilian witnesses with addresses in counties Roscommon, Kerry and Wicklow will also be called.
Ms Comerford told the jury panel that the State will open its case formally on Wednesday morning.
A third family member, Michael Doherty Jnr also denied participating or contributing to the activities of a criminal organisation before the jury panel on Tuesday morning.
However, after the jury had been sent away until the trial commences on Wednesday morning, Michael Doherty Jnr was re-arraigned on Tuesday afternoon and this time pleaded guilty to participating or contributing to the activities of a criminal organisation.
Mr Doherty Jnr of St Michael’s Park, Ballymaley, Ennis represented by counsel Brendan Browne BL (instructed by solicitor, Daragh Hassett) is to be sentenced at a future date to be fixed and was remanded in custody.
In the cases going to trial Michael Doherty Snr and Ned Doherty both of St Michael’s Park, Ballymaley, Ennis each replied ‘not guilty’ when arraigned that they participated or contributed to the activities 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 from November 2020 to March 5th 2021.
Ned Doherty also denied that 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 also denied that on 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).
A jury of 12 was impanelled from the jury panel in the case and the trial is due to commence Wednesday morning before Judge Francis Comerford.
