The father and uncle of Brian Meehan, who is serving life for the murder of the journalist Veronica Guerin, were both jailed by the Special Criminal Court in Dublin yesterday for money-laundering offences.
Brian Meehan's father, Kevin Meehan, was jailed for five years, and his uncle, Thomas Meehan, was given a three-year sentence, with the last year suspended.
The two men showed no emotion as they were sentenced.
Kevin Meehan (61), of Stanaway Road, Kimmage, Dublin, was convicted on Monday of handling bank drafts totalling £92,351.17 sterling, £4,500 in cash and a cheque for £4,000, knowing that the money was the proceeds of criminal activity which took place on various dates in 1995 and 1996.
The court found that the State had not proved that the money-laundering charges related to drug-trafficking, but it had proved that they related to other criminal activity.
Kevin Meehan was also convicted of removing the money from the State to assist in the avoidance of prosecution or the making of a confiscation order. He was cleared of one count of handling sterling bank drafts totalling £93,386.34 on August 8th, 1996.
Kevin Meehan's brother, Thomas (51), of Dunmore Park, Ballymount, Dublin, pleaded guilty earlier this month to a number of money-laundering offences.
He pleaded guilty to handling sterling bank drafts with a total value of £148,386.34 in August and September 1996, knowing that the money was the proceeds of drug-trafficking or other criminal activity. He also pleaded guilty to handling cash and bank drafts worth a total of £145,167 in punts and sterling on various dates in February, March and April 1996, knowing that the money was the proceeds of criminal activity. Sentencing Kevin Meehan, Mr Justice Barr, presiding, said that Brian Meehan had played an important role in the activities of a criminal gang which imported and distributed illegal tobacco and later drugs. Kevin Meehan had played an active role in laundering money for his son, which included visits to Vienna, where bank accounts were opened.
Mr Justice Barr said that the court was not satisfied beyond a reasonable doubt that Kevin Meehan had knowledge of the drugs business his son was involved in.
The judge noted that Thomas Meehan had no previous convictions and had led an exemplary life. The court was taking account of the fact that he had been suffering from depression and hypertension since his arrest in 1997.