Thousands of euros seized by Newbridge Gardai refused to couple

A Polish couple who applied to the state for the return of several thousand euros that Gardai said was 'money from drug dealing' had their requests refused at Naas District Court yesterday.

Evidence was given at court how Detective Garda Seamus Doyle, stopped a Polish man, while he was driving on the road, on June 29, 2014, after getting an anonymous tip off about alleged drug dealing in Newbridge.

Detective Doyle outlined to the court how the accused was brought in for questioning and then a warrant was issued to check his home in Newbridge.

Evidence was given that in the home €4,400 worth of MDMA was found. €4,400 was uncovered hidden in the bed frames while €3,205 was found in the kitchen.

Detective Doyle also outlined how a digital weighing scales and ledger was found at the Newbridge house.

Evidence was given by Inspector Mel Smith that there was in excess of €8,000 owed in the book at the time that it was seized.

The accused claimed that the money was that he had loaned to his friends. He claimed that the money was from a personal injuries claim he had won which gave him €14,000.

The accused's girlfriend said that the €4,400 was from money she had saved for a car.

Defence Solicitor, Matt Byrne, argued that the girlfriend had sold a car to a local woman and evidence was given in court, providing a written confirmation. Mr Byrne also argued that due to a legal loophole, MDMA was not illegal at the time.

Judge Desmond Zaidan refused to grant the couple the money back.

He said that the evidence given by the couple was 'lacking credibility.'