A member of the Keane gang in Limerick and his wife spent €59,000 carrying out "extensive works" to a house in Garryowen, despite neither of them having a job, the Special Criminal Court has heard.
The three-judge court also heard during Monday’s sentence hearing that the couple had their wedding reception at Bunratty Castle in Clare in 2019, which was a "significant family occasion" for the Keane Organised Crime Group.
The Keane gang are suspected of carrying out the importation of firearms and drugs on a national and international level and have been involved in a murderous feud with the McCarthy-Dundon gang since 2000, the court heard.
Defence lawyers for Warren Hehir - who is at the "mid-level" of the Keane Organised Crime Group and is a nephew of murdered Limerick crime boss Kieran Keane - told the non-jury court that their client's wife "would not be here were it not for him". "These are my firm instructions and that goes to Warren's credit and how he has approached the case," said senior counsel Dean Kelly.
Guilty pleas
Vicky Hehir (30), also known as Victoria O'Halloran, of Bruach na Sionna, Castleconnell, Co Limerick and her husband Warren Hehir (33) of the same address appeared before the three-judge court for their sentence hearing Monday.
Warren Hehir has pleaded guilty that on dates between August 8th, 2019 and June 17th, 2020, he possessed, used, converted, transferred or handled cash to the value of €59,000, knowing or believing or being reckless as to whether the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct, in discharging sums due and owing in respect of works carried out on Kilmurry Court, Garryowen, Limerick between August th8, 2019, and June 17th, 2020.
He also pleaded guilty that on June 17th, 2020, at The Path, Garryowen, he handled, acquired or possessed a Rolex watch knowing, believing or being reckless as to whether the watch was the proceeds of criminal conduct.
Vicky Hehir has pleaded guilty to one charge of money laundering in relation to the €59,000 for the works carried out at Kilmurry Court.
At Monday’s sentence hearing, Sergeant Cathal O'Sullivan, from Roxboro Road Garda Station, told prosecuting counsel Fiona Murphy SC that the money laundering charges arose from an investigation launched to target the Keane Organised Crime Group in Limerick, which had its stronghold in Garryowen.
Firearms and drugs
The sergeant said that the Keane Organised Crime Group and its associates are suspected of the importation of firearms and drugs on a national and international level. He said various searches of properties took place and one of the search warrants granted was for a property at The Path in Garryowen. He said two items of relevance were discovered at this address on June 17th, 2020, namely a men's Rolex watch valued at €13,600 and a woman's Rolex worth €6,000.
Other items found, said the witness, were plans for a house at Kilmurry Court in the names of Warren and Vicky Hehir. An order to freeze the couple's financial accounts in various institutions was sought on foot of the search and other items were found.
The sergeant said several bank accounts from various institutions in the name of Vicky Hehir were sought in July 2020. An order was later granted seeking documentation from her bank accounts and the relevant material was received by gardaí.
Gardaí discovered that numerous cash lodgements of various amounts had been made to a certain bank account but there had been no withdrawals since 2014. Sergeant O'Sullivan said the source of these monies were unknown and unexplained. Another AIB account was opened in 2017 and seven lodgements were in it and no withdrawals were made.
Social welfare
Information received from the Revenue Commissioners showed that the couple hadn't worked as PAYE employees. No social welfare had been claimed by either of them but Vicky Hehir had been in receipt of children's allowance.
An investigation was launched by gardaí into Kilmurry Court, and it was established that Warren Hehir's mother, Sandra Hehir, had purchased the property in August 2017 and that €39,000 had been paid as a deposit for the house.
Sandra Hehir (54), with an address at Assumpta Park, Island road, Limerick City, pleaded guilty last month before the Special Criminal Court to laundering over €100,000 in crime cash at her home.
Sgt O'Sullivan said it became apparent that the property at Kilmurry Court was being purchased on behalf of Warren and Vicky Hehir. He said a planning application had been made by Sandra Hehir for an extensive renovation and extension to the property. Extensive works were carried out to the value of €59,000 and the monies were paid by the couple, he continued.
Keane gang
Giving the background to the Keane Organised Crime Group, Sgt O'Sullivan said it was traditionally based in the St Mary's Park area of Limerick, but it is now located in the Garryowen area.
He said in the early 2000s there was an amalgamation between the Keane-Collopy families but that they are now separate groups.
"They are now involved in an ongoing feud with the McCarthy-Dundon's since 2000. There has been a significant number of murders, attempted murders and firearms seizures linked to that organised crime group," he said.
The court heard that Warren Hehir has 54 previous convictions which include money laundering in the context of drug dealing, robbery, criminal damage and the possession of a firearm and ammunition.
Sgt O'Sullivan told Ms Murphy that the couple married in 2019 and had their wedding reception at Bunratty Castle in Co Clare, which was a significant family occasion for the Keane Organised Crime Group.
Vicky Hehir, he said, was arrested in August 2020 and engaged in four interviews with gardaí.
Child allowance
Vicky Hehir told gardaí she was no longer working as a hairdresser and had received €280 per month in child allowance. The defendant said her relationship with her mother-in-law Sandra had broken down and that they were no longer on speaking terms.
The court heard Vicky Hehir indicated to gardaí that she had no other legitimate sources of income but did not accept that the monies came from an organised crime group.
When asked about the renovations to Kilmurry Court, Vicky Hehir accepted €59,000 was paid for it and that she had paid €12,000 of this in cash.
The court heard that Warren Hehir didn't engage with gardaí during his detention other than to answer one question in relation to renovations at Kilmurry Court, in which he said "I got the work done".
Sgt O'Sullivan said Warren Hehir is in the "mid-level" of the Keane Organised Crime Group and that Vicky, who has one previous conviction for drugs, "is simply his wife".
Under cross-examination, Sgt O'Sullivan agreed with Dean Kelly SC, for Warren Hehir, that his previous convictions for drugs arose from allegations of street dealing and that the largest sum was in the region of €4,100.
He also agreed that Warren Hehir is a family man who discharges his responsibilities and whose general approach to criminal allegations is to put his hands up and plead guilty when caught.
Sgt O'Sullivan agreed with Vincent Heneghan SC, representing Vicky Hehir, that his client had somewhat cooperated with the investigation by answering some questions of assistance. The barrister said Vicky Hehir had moved away from Limerick City and is now based in Castleconnell. The witness agreed she is a full-time mother to her three children and dedicates herself to that role.
Counsel said his client "doesn't have any involvement nowadays with anyone connected to the gang" and her involvement was the handing over of €12,000 to a builder. The sergeant agreed that Vicky was undoubtedly aware of her husband's obvious activities and that she had learned from this event.
Mr Justice Michael MacGrath, sitting with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge James Faughnan, remanded Warren Hehir in custody and Vicky Hehir on continuing bail until January 22nd, 2024, when they will be sentenced.
"The court takes a serious view of the offending of both defendants," Mr Justice MacGrath added.
