Courts / Cavan / Report

Monaghan brothers admit involvement in cross-border ATM gang

Date
2021-12-21

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Virginia

County
Cavan

Summary

Two brothers from Monaghan have entered guilty pleas at the Special Criminal Court in relation to a cross-border gang investigation involving ATM thefts. Gerard Duffy, aged 30, admitted to the attempted theft of an ATM at the Riverfront Hotel in Virginia, Co Cavan, on 14 August 2019. His brother Ciaran Duffy, aged 27, pleaded guilty to three offences, including participating in criminal activities in Co Meath and attempting to steal the same ATM. Their elder brother Stephen Duffy, aged 35, previously admitted possessing cash at Tullypole, Co Meath, in August 2019. The pleas relate to a garda investigation into ATM thefts across Cavan and Monaghan between September 2018 and August 2019. A fourth man, Niall Finnegan, was sentenced to four-and-a-half years, with 18 months suspended, for possessing €103,000 in proceeds. Sentencing hearings for both Gerard and Ciaran Duffy have been scheduled for 1 February. Both remain on bail.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Monaghan brothers admit involvement in cross-border ATM gang. Charges or matters: three offences connected to the same investigation; participating in criminal activities while in a Toyota Avensis at Tullypole, Moynalty, Co Meath on August 20, 2019 by participating in the movement of cash on behalf of a criminal organisation; attempting to commit an offence under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud) Act by attempting to steal the ATM and its contents at the Riverfront Bar and Restaurant; participating in or contributing to the possession of cash at Tullypole, Moynalty on 14 August 2019, intending to facilitate the commission of an offence by a criminal organisation; possessing cash at The Yard, Tullypole, Moynalty, Co Meath, on August 20, 2019; a serious offence, to wit: the possession of cash for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with, a criminal or

When:

April 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
August 2019 Incident
August 14, 2019 Incident
February 1, 2020 Adjournment
February 1 Hearing Or Sentence
August 20, 2019 Incident
14 August 2019 Incident
September 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
2021-12-21 Publication

Case subjects

Ciaran Duffy

Defendant

Charges: three offences connected to the same investigation; participating in criminal activities while in a Toyota Avensis at Tullypole, Moynalty, Co Meath on August 20, 2019 by participating in the movement of cash on behalf of a criminal organisation; attempting to commit an offence under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud) Act by attempting to steal the ATM and its contents at the Riverfront Bar and Restaurant; participating in or contributing to the possession of cash at Tullypole, Moynalty on 14 August 2019, intending to facilitate the commission of an offence by a criminal organisation; possessing cash at The Yard, Tullypole, Moynalty, Co Meath, on August 20, 2019; a serious offence, to wit: the possession of cash for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with, a criminal organisation, contrary to Section 73 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Niall Finnegan

Convicted Person

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Niall Finnegan (39) was jailed for four-and-a-half years with the final 18 months suspended for possessing cash, which was the proceeds of the ATM thefts carried out by the gang.

Stephen Duffy

Convicted Person

Charges: possessing cash at The Yard, Tullypole, Moynalty, Co Meath, on August 20, 2019; a serious offence, to wit: the possession of cash for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with, a criminal organisation, contrary to Section 73 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty