200 victim impact statements to be read out in sentencing of Custom House Capital fraud conspirators

Four men were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following their guilty pleas in connection with a significant investment fraud at Custom House Capital Ltd. The offences occurred between October 2008 and July 2011. Before imposing sentence, Judge Orla Crowe heard nearly 200 victim impact statements from former clients and investors who suffered substantial financial losses. Harry Cassidy, the company's former chief executive, John Whyte, former Head of Private Clients, and Paul Lavery, former Head of Finance, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud. John Mulholland of Kilkenny pleaded guilty to negligence in his duties as a non-executive director. Lavery is from County Monaghan. In a separate matter, Ciara Kelleher, the firm's former senior portfolio relationship manager, will face a retrial in 2025 after a jury could not reach a verdict on her conspiracy charge. She has maintained her not guilty plea.