Trial of psychic charged with €1.7m deception hears audio recordings

A trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has heard audio recordings allegedly capturing discussions about concealing large cash withdrawals. Simon Gold, aged 54, from Aughavas, County Leitrim, has pleaded not guilty to 22 charges including money laundering, theft, deception, and control of false instruments, spanning January 2010 to October 2012. Detective Garda Deirdre Heenehan told the court that gardaí recovered a laptop containing relevant recordings. In one recording from October 15, 2012, a man referred to as "Niall" allegedly expressed concern about withdrawing €50,000 from €800,000 without triggering alerts. A second recording from October 24, 2012 captured discussion of frozen accounts and requests for cash payments. The court heard that Mr Gold acknowledged €800,000 was transferred to an Ulster Bank account in the name of Anglo Irish Global Ltd on October 15, 2012, and that he is responsible for this account. The trial continues.