Paul Neilan
The Book of Evidence has been served on a father-of-four who is accused of a series of money laundering and drug trafficking offences after his arrest in a penthouse suite at a luxury South Dublin hotel.
The Special Criminal Court previously heard that when asked to account for €1,200 in cash found in his pocket, Graham Whelan told gardaí that it had come from "up his Swiss roll".
Mr Whelan appeared on bail before the non-jury court today where his case was adjourned after service of the book was confirmed by the State.
Mr Whelan was granted strict bail in March of this year by the three-judge court, despite the objections of gardai who told the court they believed the defendant was a flight risk as he had access to "endless amounts of cash".
The defendant, who appeared in court today wearing a grey suit jacket, white shirt, dark trousers and black shoes did not speak during the brief hearing.
Mr Whelan (38), with an address at Walkinstown Avenue, Walkinstown, Dublin 12 is charged with 10 non-scheduled offences that include charges related to drug trafficking.
Curfew
Today, a request for a relaxation of Mr Whelan's curfew from Mr Michael Bowman SC was granted to accommodate his four children.
Mr Bowman said that Mr Whelan has four young and active children for whom he is the sole provider after the death of his partner. A request for his curfew to be extended to 7am-9pm was granted by presiding judge Mr Justice Tony Hunt.
Mr Bowman said that Mr Whelan had been obeying all his bail conditions, including that he sign on at a Garda station twice a day, which the State confirmed. There was no objection to the extension.
The court previously heard that Whelan told officers from the Drugs and Organised Crime Bureau (DOCB) that he had got €1,275 in cash from "up his Swiss roll, up his arse" and told them to keep it, when they searched his penthouse suite at the south Dublin Intercontinental Hotel in 2019, which it is alleged he had booked for three nights for €2,140.
Mr Justice Hunt, today, adjourned the case until June 10th and had previously asked parties in the case to be prepared to go to trial by September this year.
