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Ex-Air Corps member avoids jail over money laundering
Summary
Ian Coughlan, 46, a former Irish Defence Forces member, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four money‑laundering charges involving €159,250 in Allied Irish Bank and Bank of Ireland accounts between June and October 2016. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to a three‑year prison term, fully suspended on strict conditions, citing the case's exceptional features. Coughlan had been approached by third parties at his gym offering financial incentives for his bank details, which he never received. He admitted to being contacted by Nigerian men and a French plastics company, who sought to use his accounts for fraudulent transfers. Gardaí had secured a warrant and arrested him on 17 May 2017 after discovering fraudulent payments. Coughlan had no prior convictions and had brought €12,000 to court as an expression of remorse. The judge ordered the money to be split between the two companies and paid within 30 days.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Ex-Air Corps member avoids jail over money laundering. Charges or matters: four charges of engaging in possessing a total of €159,250, believing or being reckless as to whether it was the proceeds of crime at an Allied Irish Bank account and a Bank of Ireland account on dates between June and October 2016. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 2016 Incident
- May 17, 2017 Incident
- 2015 and 2018 Other
- 2022-11-15 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: four charges of engaging in possessing a total of €159,250, believing or being reckless as to whether it was the proceeds of crime at an Allied Irish Bank account and a Bank of Ireland account on dates between June and October 2016 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Greally handed Coughlan a three-year prison sentence, fully suspended on strict conditions due to the significant and exceptional features of this case. She imposed a sentence of three years, fully suspended on strict conditions.
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