Courts / Kildare / Report

Printer who ran sophisticated counterfeit operation "worked with the IRA", court hears

Date
2015-07-29

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Kildare

County
Kildare

Summary

Richard Molloy, a 44‑year‑old printer from Naas, was found to have run a sophisticated counterfeit banknote operation while allegedly working with the IRA. He sold €20,000 in fake €50 notes to an IRA associate in exchange for €2,200 in genuine cash. A Special Detective Unit search of his printing premises uncovered over €2 million in counterfeit notes, both finished and unfinished, and the equipment used to produce them. Molloy pleaded guilty to possession of counterfeiting tools at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was remanded on continuing bail for sentencing on 7 November 2015. The court heard he began counterfeiting after his printing business suffered from the economic downturn, and that he had no direct involvement with the IRA beyond alleged cooperation. The case highlighted the scale of the operation and the evidence presented by the prosecution. The judge was urged to consider Molloy's financial hardship, his ill partner and child when determining his sentence.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Printer who ran sophisticated counterfeit operation "worked with the IRA", court hears. Charges or matters: possession of equipment for the production of counterfeit notes at Barstown Commercial Park, Dunboyne, Co Meath on February 2, 2014; possession of counterfeiting tools. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

February 2, 2014 Adjournment
November 7, 2015 Adjournment
2015-07-29 Publication

Why: He was he was in financial trouble because of the impact of the downturn on his business. CNI source report

Case subjects

Richard Molloy

Convicted Person

Charges: possession of equipment for the production of counterfeit notes at Barstown Commercial Park, Dunboyne, Co Meath on February 2, 2014; possession of counterfeiting tools (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Richard Molloy (44) will be sentenced later after he was caught selling €20,000 in counterfeit bills to an IRA man in exchange for €2,200. He asked the judge to consider a non-custodial sentence in light of Molloy's sick partner, adding that jailing him would leave no one to care for their child.; Judge Patricia Ryan remanded him on continuing bail for sentencing on November 7, 2015.