A man who was stopped with more than £9,000 on his return from a trip to Britain failed yesterday to prevent the continued seizure of the cash pending investigations into its origin.
Haulier Mr Joseph Gannon, Grange Park Close, Raheny, Dublin, was stopped coming through Dublin Port in December 2001, driving a vehicle in which some of the money was found. The rest was found in a horse transporter to which Customs officers had spotted him signalling. He took responsibility for the cash which totalled £9,740.
He told Customs officers he had been in England selling horses and had sold one owned by himself and a second owned by a friend. He had left with four animals and returned with two.
He also said he had got £6,000 for his horse and the rest was cash he had exchanged before leaving Ireland.
Yesterday in Dublin District Court, Customs applied to extend the order detaining the cash pending consideration on whether it should be forwarded for a decision to the DPP.
Mr Gannon's solicitor, Mr Jim Orange, asked that the cash be released because it was now 14 months since it was seized and this was more than enough time to allow Customs to complete its investigations.
However, Customs investigations officer Mr Roderick O'Connor said he had completed a file on the case which was now with the Revenue Commissioner's solicitor, who must examine it before it could be transmitted to the DPP.
Mr O'Connor said while some paperwork relating to two horses from the Department of Environment and Food of the Welsh National Assembly had been supplied last February by Mr Gannon's solicitor, there remained contradictions between it and the original explanation provided by Mr Gannon.
There had also been no response to four requests for clarification of the documents.
Judge Brian Smyth extended the detention order for another three months. He said he hoped the State would process the case by the next date.