Richard Molloy’s counterfeiting sentence reduced on appeal

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The Court of Appeal quashed Richard Molloy’s six-year counterfeiting sentence and suspended 18 months of his replacement sentence on 28 July 2016. Mr. Justice Edwards delivered the judgment allowing his sentence appeal.

The court found that the original sentencing reasons lacked enough detail to establish whether sufficient credit had been given for mitigation. It chose an eight-year starting point, deducted 30 months for mitigation and suspended a further 18 months to recognise his rehabilitation and encourage further progress.

The suspension required Molloy to enter a €100 bond committing him to keep the peace and behave well for two years after his release from prison.

At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, he faced charges of delivering counterfeit currency and possessing or controlling materials or implements for making counterfeit currency. These were brought under sections 34 and 36 respectively of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

On 7 July 2015, he pleaded guilty to the materials charge and agreed that the delivery charge’s circumstances could be considered when sentencing him. The DPP accepted that approach, so the trial did not proceed. On 6 November 2015, he received the original six-year sentence, with the delivery charge taken into consideration.

On 2 February 2014, Molloy exchanged packages with a man in a Phibsboro pub. Gardaí recovered 400 counterfeit €50 notes from that man and €2,234.38 in genuine cash from Molloy. Searching a Dunboyne unit leased to Molloy, they discovered printing equipment, finished counterfeit notes with a purported value of €189,000 and unfinished notes representing approximately €2 million.

Molloy argued on appeal that inadequate weight had been given to his guilty plea, lack of relevant previous convictions, apparent remorse and relationship with his daughter. He also relied on his alcohol problem, his partner’s illness, and financial, emotional and personal difficulties.