Courts / Wexford / Report

Woman faked her own death in bid to escape charges

Date
2025-05-07

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Wexford

County
Wexford

Summary

Amy McAuley, 35, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of using a false instrument by submitting a false death notification form to Wexford County Council on January 19, 2023. She also admitted attempting to pervert the course of justice on January 23, 2023, and forging a medical report on November 23, 2022. Additionally, McAuley entered guilty pleas to five counts of theft and one count of possession of the proceeds of crime on separate dates between November 2015 and May 2023. The court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed her 2015 sentence of two years, suspended for 10 years, for stealing nearly €111,000 from a former employer, citing undue leniency. The Court of Appeal declined to alter the sentence but extended the repayment period to seven-and-a-half years. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case for finalisation next week.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Woman faked her own death in bid to escape charges. Charges or matters: one count of the use of a false instrument through submitting a false death notification form to Wexford County Council on January 19, 2023; attempting to pervert the course of justice on January 23, 2023 and to a count of forgery of a medical report on November 23, 2022, both at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice, Parkgate Street; five counts of theft and one of possession of the proceeds of crime on separate dates between November 2015 and May 2023. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

January 19, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
January 23, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
November 23, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
May 28, 2021 Incident
November 2015 Incident
May 2023 Incident
May 2019 Incident
May 2021 Hearing Or Sentence
July 2020 Hearing Or Sentence
December 2021 Other
January 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
November 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
January 4, 2023 Other
December 26, 2022 Hearing Or Sentence
June 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
June 24, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
May 15, 2023 Hearing Or Sentence
2025-05-07 Publication

Why: She told gardai she knew she was in trouble again and believed everything would be okay if she was deceased because she could be with her young child. CNI source report

Case subjects

Amy McAuley

Defendant

Charges: one count of the use of a false instrument through submitting a false death notification form to Wexford County Council on January 19, 2023; attempting to pervert the course of justice on January 23, 2023 and to a count of forgery of a medical report on November 23, 2022, both at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court at the Criminal Courts of Justice, Parkgate Street; five counts of theft and one of possession of the proceeds of crime on separate dates between November 2015 and May 2023 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: She received a sentence of two years, suspended for 10 years in November 2015 for the theft of just under €111,000 from a former employer. The court also heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions appealed the sentence imposed on McAuley in 2015 on the grounds of undue leniency.; Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the case for finalisation next week.