Belfast solicitor jailed in drug money case

A Belfast solicitor who failed to tell police about his suspicions that a client was laundering drug money has been jailed for six months.

Belfast Crown Court heard that 46-year-old Gavin David McCartan had been working as a conveyancing solicitor for Cecil Walsh, who was buying a property in Glengormley, when he received a cash deposit of £70,250 for the £105,000 property.

Police began an investigation into the case when a mortgage broker, working on behalf of Mr Walsh, contacted the police’s Economic Crime Bureau when he became concerned that his client was in a position pay such a large deposit on the property.

McCartan pleaded guilty to the charge of failing to disclose information on

8 January 2001 in that he suspected Mr Walsh to be involved in drug trafficking.

The Judge, Mr Justice Higging, said that the public was entitled to expect officers of the court to be “beyond reproach” and that solicitors who became suspicious of money laundering “have a duty to tell the police”.

(MB)