Money Laundering Trio Facing Jail For £200K Plot

Money Launderer: John Walker

A Northern Ireland lorry driver, caught transporting criminal money to the continent, was told yesterday to expect a “significant” prison sentence for the £200,000-plus plot.

Anthony Robert McDermott, 50, of Knockadore, Newtownbutler, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh and his two co-conspirators were under police observation as they laundered cash from various criminal sources.

He pleaded guilty at Southwark Crown Court to conspiring to transfer criminal property, namely £17,490 and €116,000, between August 31 and October 28, last year.

Sean Michael Tossell, 46, of Elm House, 50 Holmesdale Road, Teddington, Middlesex and Hayden John Walker, 42, of Queenswood Avenue, Wallington, Croydon also admitted the same count.

McDermott alone also pleaded guilty to possessing criminal property, namely £100,100, on October 27 at Colchester Services on the A12, Essex.

Prosecutor Mr. Bill McGivern told the court: “He was using the lorry to ship money out of the jurisdiction.

“He is based in Northern Ireland, comes to England and then the continent, taking that money from the UK out and passing it on.”

Whether the money is the profits of drug dealing, fraud or any other criminal activity is not clear and Mr. McGivern added: “We have our suspicions, but nothing can be put before the court. We say the monies come from different criminal sources.”

The cash was concealed within Budweiser and a Marks and Spencer packages.

The prosecution describe Tossell as an “organiser” and Walker a “trusted courier” who was twice observed passing money to McDermott.

However, Walker claims his involvement was limited to those two occasions and he was paid £200 each time, only knowing it was cash during the second trip.

“I was not aware of what was in the first package, but I could see the second packet contained cash, which I thought was suspicious,” Walker stated in his basis of plea.

“I have no knowledge of where the money came from or where it was going.”

Mr. McGivern replied: “Those are the only two days we can say he passed the money to McDermott. There is no evidence to say he had an organising role.”

“Mr. Tossell is the contact between the two. He is in an organising role, organising the delivery by Walker to McDermott.”

Judge Peter Testar remanded all three in custody until sentencing on January 24 telling them: “There are no promises and the overwhelming likelihood has to be significant sentences.”