A healthcare worker who was caught moving and laundering over €544,000 and £62,000 in cash for an organised crime gang was used by the gang because of her job, the Special Criminal Court has heard.
Catherine Dawson, 44, from Betaghstown Wood, Bettystown in Co Meath, was arrested by officers from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau last May after they found the money in two bags in the healthcare company car.
The mother-of-two has no previous convictions and was remanded on continuing bail for sentencing in May.
The court heard that Ms Dawson made a mistake, which has cost her her job, her home, her reputation and her relationship.
Officers from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau had a surveillance operation in place at the Spar Supermarket car park on the Donore Road in Drogheda on 11 May last year.
The community care worker was sitting in the marked healthcare company car when a man arrived and put in a blue zip locked bag with over €289,770 and £62,025.
She then received a text "1 more" to which she replied "K", and shortly afterwards gardaí watched another car arrive and a man put a black Nike bag with another €254,840 into her car.
She drove off but was stopped by the gardaí and arrested.
Ten men's watches worth over €90,000, fake designer handbags, signal blockers and a receipt for a holiday for over €8,800 were also found in a follow-up search of the rented home Ms Dawson shared with her partner and young son.
A healthcare worker who was caught moving and laundering over €544,000 and £62,000 in cash for an organised crime gang was used by the gang because of her job, the Special Criminal Court has heard | Read more: https://t.co/ivF7p7x2SN pic.twitter.com/Thf4niAxeZ
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The court was told that she was acting under instructions, was used because of her employment and the company car, and did not know the gang she was laundering the money for.
Her defence counsel submitted that she acted out of "misguided trust and a favour to another person" but was reckless and has accepted her guilt.
The care worker had, her lawyer said, put her affairs in order if she is going to prison, but pointed out she has no previous convictions, has a young child who needs stability and support, and that the family had some financial issues.
Mr Justice Tony Hunt however pointed out that tens of thousands of people have been affected by financial difficulties, but they do not go around laundering large sums of cash.
He adjourned sentencing until May.
