Courts / Cavan / Report

Notorious ATM theft gang get combined jail sentences of 19.5 years

Date
2022-03-04

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Virginia

County
Cavan

Summary

The Special Criminal Court sentenced three Monaghan brothers to a combined 19.5 years for their roles in an ATM theft gang. Gerard Duffy (31) and Ciaran Duffy (29) each pleaded guilty to offences including attempted theft of an ATM and its contents for the benefit of a criminal organisation. Ciaran Duffy additionally pleaded guilty to moving cash and possessing cash to facilitate a criminal offence. Mr Justice Hunt identified an 11-year headline sentence for both, applied a 20% discount, and suspended the final year of each term, resulting in effective sentences of eight years and nine months. Stephen Duffy (35) pleaded guilty to possessing cash in association with a criminal organisation. Rejecting his claim of limited involvement, the judge sentenced him to four years and nine months, with the final nine months suspended. All sentences were back-dated to February 1, 2022. In a related November finalisation, Niall Finnegan (39) pleaded guilty to possessing proceeds of ATM thefts and was jailed for four-and-a-half years, with the final 18 months suspended. A fifth defendant, Daniel O'Callaghan, remains to be sentenced.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Notorious ATM theft gang get combined jail sentences of 19.5 years. Charges or matters: attempted theft of an ATM and its contents for the benefit of a criminal organisation; participating in criminal activities by moving cash on behalf of a criminal organisation; attempting to steal an ATM and its contents; participating in the possession of cash intending to facilitate an offence by a criminal organisation; possessing cash in association with a criminal organisation; possessing cash which was the proceeds of ATM thefts. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

August 2019 Incident
April 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
December 2018 Other
August 14, 2019 Incident
August 20, 2019 Incident
February 1, 2022 Incident
December 16, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
April 19, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
August 14 Incident
2018 and 2019 Other
2022-03-04 Publication

Case subjects

Ciaran Duffy

Defendant

Charges: participating in criminal activities by moving cash on behalf of a criminal organisation; attempting to steal an ATM and its contents; participating in the possession of cash intending to facilitate an offence by a criminal organisation (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Mr Justice Hunt gave both men a 20% discount on that headline sentence, reducing their sentences to eight years and nine months each, adding that the court would further take rehabilitation into account and suspend the final year of each sentence.

Daniel O'Callaghan

Defendant

Gerard Duffy

Defendant

Charges: attempted theft of an ATM and its contents for the benefit of a criminal organisation (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Niall Finnegan

Defendant

Charges: possessing cash which was the proceeds of ATM thefts (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: In November, 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

Defendant

Charges: possessing cash in association with a criminal organisation (Alleged Or Contested)