Courts / Cavan / Report

Former All-Ireland champ gets 10 years for ATM thefts with cross-border gang

Summary

The Special Criminal Court sentenced Daniel O'Callaghan to 10 years imprisonment for his role in a cross-border gang that stole ATMs using diggers. O'Callaghan, a former All-Ireland club winner, was convicted after a trial of 16 offences, including the attempted theft of an ATM in Virginia, Co Cavan, and possessing over €700,000 in stolen cash. He had pleaded not guilty to charges under Sections 72 and 73 of the Criminal Justice Act. Ms Justice Tara Burns set a headline sentence of 11 years, suspending the final year subject to a three-year bond to keep the peace. Sentences for other offences, ranging from three and a half to eight years, run concurrently. The court noted O'Callaghan's central role as a planner and his forensic awareness, including burning vehicles and using burner phones. Three accomplices, Stephen Duffy, Gerard Duffy, and Ciaran Duffy, were jailed last week after pleading guilty. Stephen Duffy received four years for possessing stolen cash, while Gerard and Ciaran Duffy each received seven years and nine months for the attempted ATM theft and moving cash for a criminal organisation. Gardai recovered €429,930 from a premises in Tullypole, Co Meath, which is subject to Criminal Assets Bureau proceedings.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Former All-Ireland champ gets 10 years for ATM thefts with cross-border gang. Charges or matters: the charges against them; offences under Section 72 and 73 of the Criminal Justice Act; the attempted theft of an ATM at the Riverfront Hotel, Main Street, Virginia, Co Cavan on August 14, 2019, for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a criminal organisation; two charges of participating or contributing to the possession of cash totalling €125,930 intending to facilitate the commission by a criminal organisation or any of its members of a serious offence at Tullypole, Moynalty, Co Meath, on August 14 and 20, 2019. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Convicted

When:

• August 14, 2019 Incident
• April 3, 2019 Incident
• August 14 Incident
• 2018 and 2019 Other
• 2022-03-07 Publication

Why: Ms Justice Burns said that O'Callaghan does not get the benefit of a guilty plea but she said the court would take into consideration that a number of witnesses were not required to give evidence during his trial because he did not contest certain issues. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Theft

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Read the original CNI report