'Penny boy' in Limerick caught with high-end phone 'often used by organised crime gangs'

A “PENNY boy” was caught by gardai with a high-end phone often used by organised criminal gangs, Limerick Circuit  Court heard.

Limerick gardai also seized close to €5,000 in cash and a second phone when the defendant was stopped and searched.

The accused - Peter Ryan, aged 40, of New Barnsley Crescent, Belfast, County Antrim - pleaded guilty to one count of handling stolen property. The offence occurred in the Rhebogue area of Limerick city on April 17, 2019.

Mr Ryan was before Judge Colin Daly for sentence. The evidence had been previously outlined by prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan, instructed by State solicitor Padraig Mawe.

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In summarising the facts, Judge Daly said gardai were carrying out surveillance on the property of a person known to them on the date in question.

“They noticed a car parked outside this residence. When the accused returned to this car their suspicions were aroused. They stopped the accused who appeared very nervous. 

“They searched the accused under legislation and found him to be in possession of cash to the amount of €4,780 and two mobile phones - an iPhone and Aquaris phone,” he said.

Judge Daly said the Aquaris phone is a high-end phone “often used by organised crime gangs for communications which might be considered safe from interception”.

He said the cash and two phones were stolen property with the accused pleading guilty to handling stolen property. 

“The accused was arrested, interviewed, made admissions and co-operated with gardai,” said Judge Daly.

The judge said investigating gardai accepted that the accused was working as “a delivery person or penny boy for another person.”

“He (Mr Ryan) played a relatively minor role in handling stolen goods. The presence of the Aquaris phone might make the role he played more serious

“His conduct in agreeing to deliver the phones undoubtedly assisted a criminal enterprise, one which might be of some scale,” said Judge Daly.

In mitigation, the judge said Mr Ryan expressed genuine remorse and shame and co-operated with gardai from the outset of the investigation..

“He was previously of good character, has not come to garda attention since and is not likely to come to garda attention in the future.

"He comes from a pro-social background, has a good work history and appears to have good family support,” said Judge Daly, who added that the public good would not be served by incarcerating Mr Ryan and he was taking a rehabilitative approach.

Judge Daly imposed a fully suspended two year jail sentence.