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Coalman convicted of Slane Castle killing had €322k cash hidden under false step in his house
Coalman convicted of Slane Castle killing had €322k cash hidden under false step in his house

Sunday World

time2 days ago

  • Sunday World

Coalman convicted of Slane Castle killing had €322k cash hidden under false step in his house

Michael Hodgins, Pearse Park, Drogheda, could not account for bundles of money underneath a false step in stairs at his home, Dundalk Circuit Court heard. The case was heard in Dundalk Circuit Court. A CONVICTED killer who pleaded guilty to money laundering after €322,055 cash was uncovered hidden in his house has been remanded on continuing bail. Michael Hodgins (54), Pearse Park, Drogheda, could not account for the bundles of money found underneath a false step in stairs at his home, Dundalk Circuit Court heard. Hodgins was previously convicted of the manslaughter of Slane Castle gamekeeper Timothy Kidman for which he received a 12-year sentence in 1990. Judge Dara Hayes acceded to a defence application to adjourn sentence because Mr Hodgins' partner and mother of his seven-year-old son is undergoing residential drug treatment until August. Evidence was given that nobody was present when Gardaí arrived to search the Pearse Park house at 9.10am on June 5, 2020. Members of the Armed Support Unit gained entry. Read more Supergrass witness Jonathan Dowdall's former home is sold Officers found bundles of cash in two silver briefcases and a silver tin underneath a false step on stairs, as well as a mobile phone. The wooden step was held in place by magnets. Two days later Gardaí returned and arrested Mr Hodgins on suspicion of money laundering. He made no reply after caution. He had to be handcuffed before being brought to Drogheda Garda Station. He had no explanation for the cash. Details were given of previous convictions, including for manslaughter and for the possession and possession for sale or supply of drugs. He got a nine-year sentence for the drugs charges. Senior counsel Michael Hourigan, instructed by solicitor Michael Finucane, said the defendant also had two adult children. The mother of his seven-year-old was in residential drug treatment scheduled to finish in August. The court was asked that a custodial sentence not happen immediately. He had recently suffered a hand injury. He was a coalman and involved in the welfare of fishermen, counsel continued. Judge Hayes remarked that it was a significant quantity of cash in unexplained circumstances. He said that he would allow an adjournment for the defendant's partner to complete treatment. Mr Hodgins was remanded on the same bail terms to October 10. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme

Coalman convicted of Slane Castle manslaughter had €322k cash hidden under false step in his house
Coalman convicted of Slane Castle manslaughter had €322k cash hidden under false step in his house

Sunday World

time2 days ago

  • Sunday World

Coalman convicted of Slane Castle manslaughter had €322k cash hidden under false step in his house

Michael Hodgins, Pearse Park, Drogheda, could not account for bundles of money underneath a false step in stairs at his home, Dundalk Circuit Court heard. The case was heard in Dundalk Circuit Court. A 54-year-old man who pleaded guilty to money laundering in respect of €322,055 cash hidden in his house has been remanded on continuing bail. Michael Hodgins, Pearse Park, Drogheda, could not account for bundles of money underneath a false step in stairs at his home, Dundalk Circuit Court heard. The defendant was previously convicted of the manslaughter of Slane Castle gamekeeper Timothy Kidman for which he received a 12-year sentence in 1990. Judge Dara Hayes acceded to a defence application to adjourn sentence because Mr Hodgins' partner and mother of his seven-year-old son is undergoing residential drug treatment until August. Evidence was given that nobody was present when Gardaí arrived to search the Pearse Park house at 9.10am on June 5, 2020. Members of the Armed Support Unit gained entry. Read more Supergrass witness Jonathan Dowdall's former home is sold Officers found bundles of cash in two silver briefcases and a silver tin underneath a false step on stairs, as well as a mobile phone. The wooden step was held in place by magnets. Two days later Gardaí returned and arrested Mr Hodgins on suspicion of money laundering. He made no reply after caution. He had to be handcuffed before being brought to Drogheda Garda Station. He had no explanation for the cash. Details were given of previous convictions, including for manslaughter and for the possession and possession for sale or supply of drugs. He got a nine-year sentence for the drugs charges. Senior counsel Michael Hourigan, instructed by solicitor Michael Finucane, said the defendant also had two adult children. The mother of his seven-year-old was in residential drug treatment scheduled to finish in August. The court was asked that a custodial sentence not happen immediately. He had recently suffered a hand injury. He was a coalman and involved in the welfare of fishermen, counsel continued. Judge Hayes remarked that it was a significant quantity of cash in unexplained circumstances. He said that he would allow an adjournment for the defendant's partner to complete treatment. Mr Hodgins was remanded on the same bail terms to October 10. Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme

Convicted drug dealer had €322k in cash in 'unexplained circumstances'
Convicted drug dealer had €322k in cash in 'unexplained circumstances'

Irish Daily Mirror

time3 days ago

  • Irish Daily Mirror

Convicted drug dealer had €322k in cash in 'unexplained circumstances'

A convicted drug dealer - who shot dead a friend of the late Lord Henry Mountcharles - is to be sentenced later for having €322,000 hidden in a false step in the staircase in his home in 'unexplained circumstances.' Michael Hodgins, 54, shot Slane Castle gamekeeper Tim Kidman (27) in 1989 when he was 19 and was convicted of manslaughter following a trial in 1990. Earlier this year Hodgins, of Pearse Park, Drogheda, Co Louth pleaded guilty to money laundering under Section 7 Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act at Dundalk Circuit Court. Detective Garda Donal Clarke told prosecuting counsel Vincent Heneghan, SC on Friday at the sentencing hearing for Hodgins for money laundering that a warrant was executed on June 5, 2020 to search the home of Hodgins -a coal delivery man. The search was conducted by detectives from Drogheda Garda Station accompanied by the armed support unit. When officers searched Hodgins' home, he was not there. However, two silver briefcases containing a total of €243,000 in cash and a further €75,160 in cash was discovered during the search in a silver tin box hidden beneath a false step in the staircase of Hodgins' home. Det Gda Clarke said the cash was located under the false step where the 'wooden part was held together with magnets on the first step' of the staircase. Gda Clarke said he returned to the home of Hodgins' later that day and Hodgins was present in the hallway. He arrested Hodgins and cautioned him. He said Hodgins made no reply after caution and that he 'wasn't cooperative' and he had to place him in handcuffs. At a previous court sitting Hodgins pleaded guilty to Section 7 money laundering, the court heard. Hodgins has six previous convictions including manslaughter of Mr Kidman, a groundskeeper at Slane Castle and two convictions under Section 3 Misuse of Drugs and one conviction under Section 15 possession of drugs for sale or supply where he received a nine year prison sentence. Defence counsel Michael Hourigan, SC said the defendant spent time in St Patrick's Institute for the manslaughter of Mr Kidman. 'He is married and has a young child and two adult children,' Mr Hourigan said, adding Hodgins' partner is getting drug treatment. 'He is anxious he won't be sentenced until after she has finished her treatment,' said Mr Hourigan. When asked by Judge Dara Hayes if any explanation was given for the cash, Mr Hourigan said 'No.' 'He was released from prison in 2013 and has gone a lengthy time without coming to garda attention,' said Mr Hourigan, adding 'He is a useful member of society and is involved in the community in a positive way looking after the welfare of fishermen. 'He finds himself in difficult circumstances and he is asking for a delay in his sentencing until after his partner finishes her treatment.' Judge Hayes said 'It's a serious offence. He had significant cash in unexplained circumstances.' The judge said he will allow an adjournment of the sentencing of Hodgins until a date in October to 'allow his partner to finish her treatment.' Hodgins was jailed for 12 years in 1990 for the killing of Mr Kidman, which shocked the nation. During the murder trial in 1990 it was revealed Hodgins fired five shots at the gamekeeper - the final one killing him. Others blasted him in the chest, jaw and arms. Mr Kidman was gunned down after he confronted Hodgins and another man poaching in the Co Meath estate. In court at the time Hodgins said: "I didn't realise what I'd done until after I did it." Hodgins and the other man then hid the body until it was found by Lord Henry's secretary. During the trial the then State Pathologist John Harbison revealed how the gamekeeper was alive when he was shot with a bullet from a .22 rifle which ripped through the top of his head. A jury found Hodgins, then 19, not guilty of murder but guilty of manslaughter.

Assurances on inspections given on coal tip in Blaenau Gwent
Assurances on inspections given on coal tip in Blaenau Gwent

South Wales Argus

time6 days ago

  • Business
  • South Wales Argus

Assurances on inspections given on coal tip in Blaenau Gwent

At a meeting of Blaenau Gwent County Borough Council's Economic Development and Environment Management scrutiny committee on Tuesday, July 8, councillors received a briefing on the draft Local Flood Risk Management Strategy for the next five years. Infrastructure services manager Kevin Kinsey explained the council's areas of responsibility as one of the authorities that is tasked to deal with flooding incidents. Within the document disused coal tips are mentioned – this is because of the risk that their stability could 'fail' in periods of heavy rain. This happened last November, when 40 homes had to be evacuated during Storm Bert as heavy rain caused a landslide from an old coal tip near Cwmtillery. Mr Kinsey told councillors that there are 129 disused coal tips in Blaenau Gwent and the council 'owns and maintains' 53 of them, which includes the one in Cwmtillery. Cllr Wayne Hodgins (Independent) wanted some clarification on coal tips. 'It's quite alarming that they are our responsibility,' said Cllr Hodgins. Mr Kinsey explained that the council has an 'inspection regime' in place and maintenance work is funded by the Welsh Government. Cllr Hodgins said: 'That does put a large strain on our resources, there may need to be a review of how we manage those tips with the limited resources we have in house.' Mr Kinsey said that the Welsh Government had provided the coal tip safety grant to fund maintenance work in the aftermath of the Tylerstown coal tip landslide in 2020. Mr Kinsey said: 'We've been able to undertake a lot of work, and we spent just under £2 million in tip maintenance across our tips plus private tips as well, if we feel it's justified. 'In terms of our physical resource it is very limited we are only a very small team. 'Be assured that these inspections are undertaken and where maintenance work that needs to be done it is undertaken.' Cllr Sonia Behr (Labour) asked if private owners were charged for inspections and for work to be carried out on their disused tip? Mr Kinsey said: 'We don't charge, it's Welsh Government funding. 'Under the coal tip maintenance programme, funding will be made available to private landowners that has to be directed or undertaken by the local authority.' Councillors agreed the draft strategy which will go before a future meeting of the Labour Cabinet for a decision.

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