Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 18540Money laundering · Co. Limerick · 17 Jun 2020

Unemployed man jailed over cash hidden in socks and jacket

On 17 June 2020, gardaí searched the home of Dermot McManus, a man, in County Limerick, and found cash hidden in socks and a jacket pocket in a bedroom wardrobe. The search followed a significant development in Operation Coronation, an operation targeting organised crime in Co Limerick. McManus pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to handling €28,550 and £11,795 that he knew, believed or was reckless as to being proceeds of criminal conduct, to three money laundering charges, and to handling a white Mercedes Sprinter van between June 2020 and May 2021. On 22 January 2024 a three-judge court presided over by Mr Justice Paul Burns sentenced him, with reports giving either three years or four years with the final 12 months suspended.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced22 Jan
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Dermot McManus was jailed by the Special Criminal Court for money laundering-related offences.
Where
Cash was found in socks and a jacket pocket in the bedroom wardrobe of McManus's home.
When
  • The search of McManus's home took place on 17 June 2020.
  • The sentence was reported on 22 January 2024.
Investigation
The arrest followed a significant development in Operation Coronation, which targeted organised crime in Co Limerick.
Charges
  • McManus pleaded guilty to handling €28,550 and £11,795 that he knew, believed or was reckless as to being proceeds of criminal conduct.
  • McManus pleaded guilty to three money laundering charges.
  • McManus pleaded guilty to handling a white Mercedes Sprinter van between June 2020 and May 2021.
In court
A three-judge Special Criminal Court was presided over by Mr Justice Paul Burns.
Sentence
  • One report says McManus was jailed for three years, while the body of the same report says four years with the final 12 months suspended.
  • The court ordered forfeiture of the cash seized by gardaí and the Mercedes Sprinter van.
Other details
  • The judge said there was no evidence the offending was done on behalf of an organised criminal group, and placed it in the lower end of the mid-range with a headline sentence of five years.
  • The judge considered McManus's guilty plea and his health, which includes blindness in one eye and Crohn's disease.
  • McManus has 22 previous convictions.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMcManus was jailed by the Special Criminal Court for money laundering-related offences. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whereCash was found in socks and a jacket pocket in the bedroom wardrobe of McManus's home. (limerickleader.ie)
  • whenThe search of McManus's home took place on 17 June 2020. (limerickleader.ie)
  • investigationThe arrest followed a significant development in Operation Coronation, which targeted organised crime in Co Limerick. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeMcManus pleaded guilty to handling €28,550 and £11,795 that he knew, believed or was reckless as to being proceeds of criminal conduct. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeMcManus pleaded guilty to three charges relating to money laundering offences. (limerickleader.ie)
  • chargeMcManus also pleaded guilty to handling a white Mercedes Sprinter van between June 2020 and May 2021. (limerickleader.ie)
  • courtThe court was a three-judge court presided over by Mr Justice Paul Burns. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge sentenced McManus to four years with the final 12 months suspended. (limerickleader.ie)
  • sentenceThe court ordered the forfeiture of cash seized by gardaí and a Mercedes Sprinter van. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe judge said there was no evidence the offending was done on behalf of an organised criminal group. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe judge placed the offending in the lower end of the mid-range and set a headline sentence of five years. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherThe judge considered McManus's guilty plea and his health conditions, which include blindness in one eye and Crohn's disease. (limerickleader.ie)
  • otherMcManus has 22 previous convictions. (limerickleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 22 Jan2024
    Sentencedlimerickleader.ie, first report
    Unemployed man who had tens of thousands stashed in socks and jacket jailed

    Reports the Special Criminal Court sentence. The lead says he was jailed for three years, but the body says four years with the final 12 months suspended.

    convicted, Dermot McManus, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Dermot McManus