Mortgage application fraudster avoids jail

A 40-year-old man from Keshcarrigan in County Leitrim has received a fully suspended three-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for mortgage fraud. Aidan McGovern pleaded guilty to submitting false documents to a bank in Swords in 2018 whilst applying for a €120,000 mortgage. The documents included fabricated wage slips from a non-existent company, a false P60 form, and a credit union statement belonging to another person. Bank staff became suspicious after noticing discrepancies including an incorrect account balance. McGovern admitted to editing the documents himself and emailing them knowingly to the financial institution. He attributed his actions to marital breakdown and a desire to secure housing. Judge Pauline Codd acknowledged his full co-operation with gardaí and low re-offending risk but emphasised the need to protect the integrity of loan applications. The sentence was suspended in full on condition he keeps the peace.