Dublin student receives suspended sentence for handling thousands of euro from criminal activity
The Wicklow PeopleA Dublin business student who allowed her bank account to be used to receive thousands of euro from criminal activity has avoided an immediate prison sentence
Chloe Kavanagh (22), with an address at Castlecurragh Heath, Blanchardstown, Dublin 15, appeared at Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court for sentencing.
The defendant entered a plea of guilty to one count of possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct.
Garda Aisling O’Connor of Baltinglass Garda Station told the court that on December 15, 2022, Ms Kavanagh received €7,778 into her bank account which was taken from a PTSB account registered in Wicklow.
However, Gda O’Connor stated that Ms Kavanagh was instructed by an unknown Nigerian national, who she met through the social media app Snapchat, to allow her bank account to be used to receive money, and later withdraw the funds.
The Nigerian national met with the accused at Blanchardstown Shopping Centre, where he directed her to purchase two Apple watches valued at €1,000 using her debit card.
James Kelly, barrister for the prosecution, noted that Apple watches are items that are easy to dispose of.
Gda O’Connor said she believed the accused remarked during interview that she felt under pressure, and that she later sent messages to the “mysterious male” complaining that her bank account had been frozen due to the fraud.
Ms Kavanagh received no payment for her involvement. She refused to reveal the name of the man.
Judge Patrick Quinn asked Gda O’Connor if the accused was “as naive and stupid as she wants him to believe”.
Counsel for Ms Kavanagh, Gregory Murphy BL, said that his client was a trainee teacher at the time, but had acted like “a bit of an eejit”.
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He added that she received no monetary gain and was far from a “criminal mastermind”.
In the plea in mitigation, the court heard that Ms Kavanagh is now a business management student who also works part-time at Castleknock Golf Club, where she was also employed in 2022.
Multiple testimonials were handed into the court.
Judge Quinn remarked that he is starting to come across these types of charges more often, with Mr Murphy arguing: “Don’t let her be the one to put the flagpole in for the people of Wicklow.”
Counsel for the defence asked that a Section 100 order be applied to Ms Kavanagh.
A Section 100 order is an order under Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, which allows a court to impose a suspended sentence, on the condition that the person does not re-offend within a set period.
If they stay out of trouble during that time, they avoid serving the prison sentence.
The judge granted counsel’s request, sentencing her to 18 months’ imprisonment, but suspending the sentence in its entirety.
Ms Kavanagh must pay €5,000 to the charity Tiglin. If she does not come to the attention of gardaí, she must return to Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court in 2027.
The accused must comply with the conditions, and she will avoid serving the prison sentence and will be released from the indictment, but will remain with a conviction.