A MAN was caught by gardai in Dublin with almost €700,000 in cash in the boot of his car wrapped in vacuum packs and duct tape, a court heard today.
And cops told how Gerard Hayes also had more money concealed in timber blocks in a rented shed in Cobh, Co Cork.

Gardai had previously arrested Hayes as part of a targeted operation in Cork[/caption]
Hayes, who had secured High Court bail just days before the detection, claimed the money came from an inheritance, his part time job as a tree surgeon and “foxers” he did in his spare time.
He told Gardai as soon as they spoke to him that he had taken his “life savings” of almost €700,000 from his safety deposit box and put it in the boot of his car before being stopped at Mespil Road, Dublin on February 20, 2024.
Hayes, of College Lawn, Cobh, Co Cork was on bail when he was arrested by the Dublin officers and was being investigated by Cork Gardai for money laundering, drug dealing and possession of ammunition.
Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard that the father of three, who lived in a Council house, for which he was paying €200pm, claimed the money, which was wrapped in vacuum packs and duct tape, came from an inheritance, his regular job, and what he called “foxers” or “all cash jobs” he did on the side.
Detective Sergeant Eugene McCarthy said the tree surgeon, who worked three to four days a week and often did no work for months at a time, claimed there was €620,000 in the car, but he had €50,000 more than he realised.
Garda James McCarthy gave evidence that Hayes had been previously arrested as part of a targeted operation on February 2, 2024 at Ballydaniel in Ballymore, Cobh, Co Cork when he was found to be in possession of €62,800 in cash.
Gardai stopped him as he left the shed he was renting in Cobh for €5,000 a year, where he had installed a sophisticated state of the art alarm system which he was able to monitor remotely.
During a search of the shed Gardai found the money concealed under timber blocks covered with tarpaulin in the shed.
CCTV which was seized from the scene showed Hayes on footage counting the money and placing it in the blocks.
During a subsequent search of his home in Cobh, Gardai discovered in his attic 234 rounds of ammunition, gun silencers, pepper spray, 1,376 rifle primers and eight containers of gunpowder.
The majority of the items were found in the attic.
A valuation for a boat was also found at the property.
A house boat worth €86,000, which was funded by criminality was subsequently found and seized at East Ferry near Cobh.
Hayes was remanded in custody for the finalisation of sentencing on July 2 next.