Good samaritan hands in cash found on roadside

Gardai are trying to trace the owner of a large amount of cash found by a woman out walking at Burtonstown, Kentstown, yesterday morning.

The good samaritan who handed in the undisclosed sum, described by gardai as a 'significant amount', has has been praised for her honesty.

The woman could yet be rewarded for her decency as the sum will be returned to her if the owner is not located in 12 months. All avenues of enquiry are being looked at included the possibility that the money was connected with crime. It is not known who long the cash was there and gardai say it could have been there for some time. It is understood the cash was packaged.

Superintendent Michael Devine of Navan Gardai Station said the money was found on the roadside in a ditch by a person out walking who handed it into Navan Garda Station.

'It is wonderful to think that in this day and age there are still people who would hand back a quantity of cash when they could have walked away with it. This lady had the decency to hand it in. It could yet be hers in 12 months time if no-one comes forward.'

While it could be the case that someone lost it on the way back from the bank for example,  gardai are also looking at whether it could be connected with crime such as drugs or a theft or robbery.

Supt Devine  said Gardai are 'keeping an open mind' as to why such a quantity of cash would be on the roadside.

'We will be looking at crime in the area over the last while which may in some way relate to the loss of this type of quantity of cash. We will be looking at all avenues to establish where it came from and trace its rightful owner.  In the event of us not being able to establish it it will be returned to the lady who found it in due course.'

Supt Devine has also described the lady who found as 'very astute'.

'She initally found a €50 note on the roadway while going for a walk and thought it was unusual. On the way back she explored further and located the larger sum,' he said.

Supt Devine has appealed for information and said: 'Anybody who wishes to speak to us about the money, we would like to hear from them,' 

Anyone who lost a large sum of money or with any information to help trace the owner should contact Navan Garda Station on (046) 9079930.