The High Court is being asked to impose the longest possible disqualification on Kevin Rabbitte, former director of Westman Plant and Civils Limited, for his role in a €8m VAT fraud scheme. The company, liquidated in 2017, used its VAT number to import machinery from the UK between July 2014 and June 2015, failing to pay VAT when the goods were sold in Ireland. Rabbitte allegedly acted on behalf of an unnamed third party, bidding at UK auctions, acquiring goods under Westman's VAT number, and receiving a commission. The liquidator, Mr Myles Kirby, seeks disqualification, while Rabbitte, represented by solicitor Robert Dore, has consented to orders making him personally liable for €1.5m of the company's debts and to a declaration of intent to defraud creditors. The court will decide the disqualification period after hearing the parties' submissions.
Radu Agapie, 28, a Romanian national, was convicted in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for five counts of controlling fake Polish and Hungarian ID cards, four counts of using fake documents to open bank accounts, and three counts of money laundering between July 2018 and July 2019. He had ten prior convictions in Finland for falsification and laundering. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a concurrent sentence of six years, suspending the final 18 months on the condition that Agapie leave Ireland and not return for ten years. The case stemmed from a Europe‑wide police investigation into money laundering by criminal organisations, during which Gardaí seized a toolkit for forging documents, five fake identity cards bearing Agapie's photo, and evidence of €79,564 in three bank accounts, of which €65,660 was withdrawn. Agapie was described as having a cocaine addiction and was said to have used his time in custody productively. Radu Agapie pleaded guilty.
Mohammed Nasser Mohiuddin, a 48‑year‑old Dublin shopkeeper, was jailed for allowing his bank account to be used in a €200,000 fraud. He claimed he was promised €10,000 to let the money be transferred into his account, but never received the payment. The fraud involved an "invoice redirect" scheme by Enercon GMBH, a wind turbine manufacturer, where five payments totalling just over €202,000 were sent to Mohiuddin's account between February and March 2017. He pleaded guilty to five charges of handling stolen cash. Judge Melanie Greally described the offence as a significant error of judgment, noting his family responsibilities and business difficulties. Mohiuddin was sentenced to three and a half years, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions. The case highlighted the financial pressure that led him to participate in the scheme.
Leendert Stolk, 50, of Worthing, England, admitted to fraudulently claiming €18,000 in child benefit for his two children between 2011 and 2018. He used a school stamp from Meath and sent benefit letters to a Dublin 15 address that was later found to be empty, redirecting them to his actual address outside Ireland. Stolk had already been convicted of welfare fraud and was serving a four‑year prison sentence, of which he had completed 13 months. The child‑benefit fraud was discovered after his wife's arrest, and he made full admissions to gardaí. Judge Patricia Ryan ordered that the new charges be considered, but the prison sentence would remain unchanged. The case involved 22 counts of wrongfully claiming social welfare and four counts of using a false instrument, with a total false claim of over €244,000 during the seven‑year period. The court noted Stolk's diagnosis of obsessive‑compulsive disorder and past incidents in South Africa. Leendert Stolk pleaded guilty.
Ricardo Correia, aged 34, used 48 legitimate prepaid Mastercards to create "compromised" cards and spent €6,988 at TX Maxx outlets between November 2018 and April 2019. He returned 52 items, obtaining €6,512 in refunds credited to his own bank cards, claiming he received 30 % of the €13,500 raised. He pleaded guilty to theft, use of false instruments, possession of false instruments and money laundering. With 20 prior convictions, Judge Karen O'Connor found the crime premeditated and sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment, with the final six months suspended on strict conditions. Correia was arrested in June 2019 after CCTV footage identified him; his home was searched and three false prepaid cards were seized. He admitted using the cards to purchase goods and return them for refunds, citing debt repayment. His defence highlighted his qualifications and expressed remorse.
The Court of Appeal quashed the money‑laundering conviction of Henry Alinta, 44, owner of Aligreen Recycling Limited, after a trial judge's instructions were found to have confused the jury about the presumption of innocence and the burden of proof. Alinta had been stopped at the M1 Toll Plaza outside Drogheda, where Gardaí found €127,000 and £146,940 in his BMW X6. He claimed the cash was collected on instructions from a Nigerian friend, Sanni, and that he did not know the amount. A jury convicted him after 27 minutes of deliberation and sentenced him to four years' imprisonment, 18 months suspended. The Court of Appeal held that the judge's explanation created "confusion" that was fatal to the trial's integrity, and the conviction was therefore quashed. The case will be reviewed for a possible retrial. Henry Alinta pleaded not guilty.
John Downes, 58, of Cabinteely, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for defrauding the Revenue Commissioners of €160,000 in VAT between 2007 and 2011. He made false invoices and claimed VAT refunds that his company, Premier Print and Label Ltd, was not entitled to, and also charged customers VAT that he did not remit. Downes pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, and the judge noted the interest added by Revenue, totalling another €160,000, but based the sentence on the original amount defrauded. The judge cited Downes' guilty plea, cooperation, work history and community contributions as mitigating factors, yet stressed the seriousness of the offences. Downes had prior convictions for theft from Marks & Spencer and had previously received a suspended sentence in 2018. The court did not order restitution of the money, leaving that matter to Downes and the Revenue.
Patrick Spollen, 36, was found guilty of inducing the Bank of Ireland by deception in August 2016 to secure a €270,000 mortgage for a house in Walkinstown. He used forged employment, income, bank and credit union statements to apply. The mortgage was approved and disbursed in October 2016, but a later investigation revealed the documents were not legitimate and the bank had no record of his employment since 2010. Gardaí arrested Spollen in early 2017, and he admitted the documents were not legit. He pleaded guilty, claiming he was misguided and sought to provide a stable home for his partner and young daughter. The court noted the mortgage repayments remain ongoing and regular, and the bank is "quite happy" to allow him to continue living there. Judge Melanie Greally imposed a fully suspended two‑year prison sentence, contingent on Spollen keeping the peace and behaving well, and credited him for his guilty plea, repayment record and family circumstances.
David Farrelly, aged 31, was jailed for seven years after admitting possession of €360,000 in proceeds of crime and €25,500 in cash, and for possession of more than €84,000 worth of cocaine and €26,000 cash in a portakabin at his garden. He was caught in 2017 when Gardaí found €364,000 in cash and a pistol in a box in his stepfather's home, and again in 2018 when a raid uncovered cocaine and cash at his residence. Farrelly denied involvement the day after the first discovery, claiming his stepfather had removed the plastic wrapping the cash. His fingerprints were later found on the plastic. He has 45 prior convictions, including drug offences and traffic offences. His stepfather, described as a father figure, had previously served four years for money laundering and firearm possession. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the sentence, noting the seriousness of money laundering.
Mark Boyle, a 50‑year‑old lending agent for Provident Personal Credit Limit, left €4,500 of company cash in his car, which was stolen. He did not inform his employer and instead secured loans in the names of family and friends to repay the company, promising to repay the loans himself. Boyle's repayments became difficult, leading him to borrow further. Provident, suspicious of the loans, confronted Boyle, who confessed. Boyle pleaded guilty to one charge of theft and one of fraud, covering 20 incidents between August 2015 and January 2016. He repaid over €8,000, leaving a balance of €10,600, which he handed to his solicitor for Provident. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Boyle's full repayment and lack of prior convictions, sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, fully suspended on the condition that the €10,600 be handed over to Provident.
Two Irish film producers, Morgan O'Sullivan and James Flynn, deny that their plans to produce a sequel to the Vikings TV series breach any legal undertakings they previously gave to the High Court. The German company W2 Filmproduktion Vertriebs GmbH seeks an injunction against the producers, alleging that they have diverted €40 million from Octagon Films Ltd, a company in which all parties are shareholders. The producers, represented by Bernard Dunleavy SC and Eamon Marray BL, argue that the funds generated by the proposed spin‑off, Vikings Valhalla, should go to Octagon and that they have not diverted any money to themselves or to corporate entities they control. W2 claims the producers are not entitled to profit from the Vikings series without Octagon's permission and seeks damages for alleged breach of duty, fraud and conspiracy.
Jason Russell, 37, was jailed for two years after submitting fraudulent monthly time sheets to Cheeverstown House between 2014 and 2017, receiving about €80,000. Gardai discovered the fraud in 2017 while Russell worked as a delivery driver, finding 12 undelivered boxes of clothes worth €5,000. Russell pleaded guilty to theft and submitting false time sheets, and to stealing clothing in October–November 2017. Judge Martin Nolan noted Russell's guilty plea, cooperation and lack of likelihood of re‑offending, but also his brazen defrauding with malice, forethought and planning. He was sentenced to three years, with the final year suspended, and ordered to surrender €10,000 to the garda for transmission to Cheeverstown House. Russell had one prior road‑traffic conviction and had been attending counselling for gambling issues. The court heard that Russell's family was under financial strain at the time of the offences.
Emer Roche, aged 46, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five fraud and forgery offences committed between July and December 2014. She forged approval letters for the Irish Society of Chartered Physiotherapists (ISCP) and used a computer to facilitate the fraud, stealing €500 and forging documents on multiple dates. Roche had three prior theft convictions. The judge, citing the seriousness of the offences and Roche's prior record, imposed a three‑year imprisonment sentence, fully suspended for three years under strict conditions, including 12 months of probation. Roche had repaid €9,000 in full and had shown remorse, early cooperation, sobriety and repayment of the loss. The case involved a potential public health risk as forged letters enabled unqualified physiotherapists to practice. The ISCP had refunded applicants' fees, and Roche's actions caused a €9,000 loss to the society. The court noted her previous short‑term contract with the ISCP and her admission of the fraud to Gardaí.
A lay litigant with addresses in County Mayo attempted to effect a citizen's arrest on a solicitor from the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions during proceedings in the Court of Appeal on Friday. Stephen Manning, a candidate in the 2016 general election, had previously sought to arrest a DPP solicitor and barrister during judicial review proceedings in the High Court. Mr Manning is now appealing certain findings from those High Court proceedings. During case management on Friday, he disputed the title of his appeal and made various allegations of fraud. When asked to sit down by the President of the Court of Appeal, Mr Justice George Birmingham, Mr Manning refused. Following the lunch adjournment, he approached the DPP solicitor and placed his hand on the solicitor's shoulder, requesting he accompany him to a garda station. Members of An Garda Síochána present declined to take anyone into custody.
Timothy Milner, a 31-year-old Malawian refugee residing in Waterford, has been sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for his involvement in an invoice redirection fraud. The defendant pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of €20,448, knowing or being reckless as to whether it was the proceeds of criminal conduct, on August 21, 2017. Prosecution evidence indicated that a Limerick company was defrauded when it transferred funds to Milner's bank account following a fraudulent email. While there was no suggestion Milner sent the redirecting email, he admitted to withdrawing the cash to hand over to third parties in exchange for a promised €500. Judge Martin Nolan noted that the victim company suffered a financial loss, making the matter serious. However, in mitigation, the court considered Milner's guilty plea, his cooperation, his lack of previous convictions, and his status as a refugee who arrived in Ireland in 2013. The judge found that Milner was approached by others who had a scheme and required a bank account. Consequently, the court imposed a two-year suspended sentence, allowing the defendant to avoid immediate custody.
Michael Cole, 28, of Clondalkin, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct and possession of cannabis. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a sentence of two and a half years imprisonment, which was suspended in full on strict conditions. Cole admitted to receiving €20,000 into his Bank of Ireland account at Newlands Cross on May 17, 2016, as part of a €1.1 million money laundering operation involving a Danish company. Prosecution evidence indicated that Cole acted as a "money mule," directing the conversion of funds into US Dollars and UK Sterling under the instruction of others, for which he received €1,200 in cash and a phone. He also pleaded guilty to possessing cannabis at his address on November 14, 2017. The court noted that Cole had no previous convictions and was involved in a custody dispute at the time of the offence. While €960,000 of the laundered funds has been recovered, €80,000 remains outstanding. The judge accepted that Cole was not the main operator of the scheme, describing him as having been used by individuals more adept in crime.
A High Court judge warned activist Ben Gilroy that he could face imprisonment if he attempts to arrest employees or agents of Start Mortgages DAC. Justice Leonie Reynolds told Gilroy that such actions could lead to charges of assault and false imprisonment, and that he had been ordered not to arrest, restrain or assault any of Start's officers, agents, lawyers or employees. The judge also cautioned that Gilroy's videos, which he posted on social media and claimed to give legal advice, could mislead viewers. Gilroy, who represented himself, said he intended to appeal the ruling and that he believed he had the right to arrest those he thought had committed fraud. He also objected to the removal of his posts, citing freedom of speech. The court reiterated that any attempt to arrest people associated with Start could result in criminal charges and that Gilroy should report alleged fraud to the Gardaí, not act on his own.
Start Mortgages DAC secured a temporary High Court injunction preventing Ben Gilroy, who contested the European Parliament Elections, from arresting, restraining or assaulting any of its current or former officers, agents, lawyers or employees. The injunction also restrains Gilroy from publishing or posting online any information relating to the home addresses or property of any of Start's current or former employees, officers, and lawyers. The orders apply to any other person who has knowledge of the orders, as well as Gilroy. Start obtained the injunction in response to videos posted on social media in which Gilroy alleged that Start is involved in fraud and called for people acting for or working with the fund to be arrested. The High Court granted the injunction on an ex‑parte basis, with the matter returnable to Friday's sitting.
Brendan Clifford, 34, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to sexual exploitation of a child and sexual assault of another child at Tallaght Hospital in 2015. The victims, siblings aged nine and ten, were brought to the hospital by Clifford, who posed as a talent agent named David White. He administered cream to the children's legs, bum and penis, and requested removal of their underwear during treatment. The mother, suspicious after receiving an email from a purported agent, discovered the deception. Clifford had no prior convictions and is married with three children. He was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended on strict conditions, including probation supervision for 18 months after release. The judge described his conduct as "very devious" and "perverse.".
Jason Mahony, a 35‑year‑old former butcher from Avonbeg, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling stolen property and money laundering in May 2016. He had received €15,861 stolen from a break‑in at McLoughlin's butchers in Ballyfermot and later deposited €9,705 in cash, along with €3,460 in coins, into his bank account. Garda Ronan Coffey presented evidence that Mahony had visited the address of a former partner in Tymonville Lawn, where a rental car was found with a key in Mahony's possession and cash in envelopes bearing the names of the butchers' employees. Mahony's previous convictions for theft were noted, and a Probation Services report indicated a low risk of re‑offending. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a suspended prison sentence of three years, conditional on Mahony keeping the peace for that period.
Susan Foley, 67, of Ronanstown, Dublin, was sentenced to 16 months in prison after pleading guilty to fraudulently obtaining €150,000 in social welfare payments. She deceived the state to receive €75,695.90 of carer's allowance between 2004 and 2010, and €75,185.90 of job seekers allowance between 2010 and 2017, while continuing to claim an invalidity pension. The fraud was uncovered when a higher executive officer noticed identical photographs on two claims. Foley admitted the deception, cooperated with investigators, and entered a repayment arrangement, returning a lump sum of €30,000 from her sister's estate. Judge Martin Nolan noted her long‑term hardship but also her repeated deception, and imposed the 16‑month sentence. She has no prior convictions. The case was prosecuted by Garrett McCormack BL, with defence counsel Anne‑Marie Lawlor SC.
Craig Courtney, 23, of Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three money‑laundering counts involving €10,000, €14,600 and the transfer of a car's ownership between February and March 2017. He had four prior convictions. During a Garda search of his home, officers found €1,115, an iPhone, Prada runners, a Rolex watch, an An Post deposit book with €10,000, and additional cash hidden in a painting and under cushions. The book was linked to a €14,895 Volkswagen Golf purchase and a €14,600 credit‑union cheque that was allegedly used to buy a car. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Courtney's cooperation and the seriousness of the offence, imposed a two‑year custodial sentence. Courtney's defence highlighted his youth, family support, drug‑free status and a plea for community service instead of imprisonment. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
An Armagh man, Adrian Grant, 48, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three counts of dishonestly by deception. He used false documentation bearing the name "Gerard Grant" to submit two mortgage applications in 2011 and 2014 and a hire‑purchase application to Volkswagen Bank in 2013. The mortgage applications for a property in Kells failed, but he obtained €18,000 in car finance, which he has since repaid. Grant had a prior conviction in Northern Ireland for selling counterfeit washing powder. He explained that he had lost two properties after being let go from construction work and was under severe financial pressure, caring for a seriously ill wife. The court noted his cooperation with Gardaí and the absence of victims. Judge Martin Nolan imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended in full.
Olivia O Mahony, 22, of Boyerstown, Navan, received an 18‑month suspended sentence after pleading guilty to possessing property known to be the proceeds of criminal conduct. She had allowed her then‑partner to transfer €15,000 into her Bank of Ireland account, from which she withdrew about €13,000 in cash within two hours before the account was frozen. The money was part of a €1 million fraud that involved a fraudulent email sent to a Danish company, which transferred the VAT refund to an Irish Rabo Direct account. O Mahony claimed she had no knowledge that the transfer was illegal and said she handed the cash to her boyfriend. The court noted she had been manipulated and had not profited from the crime, leading to the suspended sentence.
In a case heard by the Court of Appeal, a Nigerian man, Prince Ajibola, aged 51, had his four‑year prison sentence upheld. He had been convicted of money laundering after €32,000 was transferred to his bank account by a financial institution following a fraud. Ajibola pleaded guilty on 26 March 2019 and was sentenced by Judge Pauline Codd on 29 May 2019 to four years in prison, with the final two years suspended. The appeal argued the sentence was excessive, noting that Ajibola had no role in the theft of the funds, which were placed in his account by a man named Kumar. The Court found no error in the judge's decision, citing Ajibola's prior convictions and the need for deterrence. The sentence was considered within the legitimate scope, with a 50 % effective discount applied for health and personal circumstances. The appeal was dismissed, leaving the original sentence in place.
A visually impaired postman who was convicted of dangerous driving causing the death of an elderly pedestrian has had his conviction upheld by the Court of Appeal. Postman David Byrne (43) of Sunnyhill, Castlemartin Lodge, Kilcullen, Co Kildare, had pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving causing the death of Patricia Dunne (70) at Collins Avenue East, Killester in Dublin on October 16, 2015. He also pleaded not guilty to dishonestly inducing the National Driving Licence Service (NDLS) to issue him with a driving licence and making a false or misleading statement while taking out insurance. He was found guilty by a jury on all three counts and sentenced to five years imprisonment by Judge Patricia Ryan on May 11, 2018. During the trial, the court heard that Ms Dunne had been walking home pulling a shopping trolley when she was struck by Byrne's car. Byrne has Type 2 Usher Syndrome, a degenerative eye disorder resulting in peripheral vision loss. The Court of Appeal rejected all grounds of appeal, including the claim that Byrne should have been charged with a lesser offence. The court upheld that Byrne ticked a box on his licence application stating that he did not have any condition affecting his peripheral vision, thereby making a gain by deception. The matter was adjourned, with Mr Justice Birmingham presiding, along with Ms Justice Maire Whelan and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, to hear an appeal relating to the length of Byrne's sentence in November.
Keegan Davidson, 25, was sentenced to three years in prison, with the final two years suspended, for laundering €104,107 obtained through an "invoice redirection" fraud. He supplied his bank account details to a criminal gang that used them to receive payments from a bogus email sent to an engineering company. Davidson withdrew about €43,759 from various bureaux de change and post offices in Dublin, converting portions to British pounds and US dollars. He pleaded guilty to four offences under the 2010 Money Laundering Act for transferring or converting money knowing it was the proceeds of crime. The court noted he had no evidence of involvement in the fraud beyond laundering, and that the bank recovered roughly €46,000 from his account. Davidson's prior convictions include possession of knives, public order, theft, trespass, and a suspended sentence for possession of a sawn‑off shotgun. The judge acknowledged his efforts at rehabilitation and imposed the suspended sentence on conditions.
Vincent O'Donoghue, a former solicitor, was refused an extension of time to appeal his conviction for fraudulently converting cheques. The Court of Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice George Birmingham with Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy and Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, denied the application. O'Donoghue had previously pleaded guilty to converting cheques totalling IR£34,828 (€44,231) intended as property deposits in Dublin and Belfast in the late 1990s. He was sentenced in July 2014 by Judge Mary Ellen Ring to 220 hours of community service in lieu of a two-year prison term. The judges noted that O'Donoghue, a former solicitor, entered his guilty plea while represented by legal counsel and had sworn affidavits that failed to demonstrate any substantive point for appeal. The court emphasized that finality and certainty are important litigation objectives, concluding that the interests of justice would not be served by granting more time. The matter was adjourned regarding the extension request, which was refused, leaving the original conviction and sentence intact.
A man from Aughavas, County Leitrim, has been sentenced to seven and a half years imprisonment following his conviction on money laundering charges at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Simon Gold, aged 54, pleaded not guilty to charges including money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments relating to offences between January 2010 and October 2012. A jury returned guilty verdicts on 20 counts after over 12 hours of deliberation, following more than two weeks of evidence. The court heard Gold operated fraudulent companies under multiple identities and targeted vulnerable individuals experiencing severe financial difficulty. Judge Martin Nolan described the crimes as devious and dishonest, noting Gold exploited men in desperate circumstances. The sentence was backdated to May 2018, when Gold first entered custody. Gold has 17 previous convictions, including 12 recorded in the United Kingdom for burglary, theft and larceny.
In July 2019, a Dublin couple, Clare Ellis (34) and Gareth Boyle (32), pleaded guilty to attempting to obtain services by deception from KBC Bank after forging documents to secure a €239,000 mortgage. They had believed they would never qualify for a housing loan and had paid a "creative accountant" €2,500 for the false paperwork. The bank, suspicious of the documents, notified Gardaí, who found the couple cooperative and contrite. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin, noting the case was "not a highly sophisticated" deception, sentenced Ellis to 120 hours and Boyle to 100 hours of community service, replacing six‑ and five‑month prison terms. The judge highlighted that the bank suffered no loss but was misled, and that the couple's actions were driven by a desire to keep a roof over their heads and those of their children. The sentencing reflected the judge's view that the offence was "highly unusual and exceptional.".
Two men were jailed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 29 July 2019 following their convictions for defrauding over 140 foreign investors of approximately €5.5 million through Arden Forestry Management between January 2014 and mid-2016. Garret Hevey, described by the court as the scheme's architect, pleaded guilty to dishonestly inducing investment and making deceptive payment requests. David Peile, who joined the company in 2015, entered similar guilty pleas. The fraud involved misrepresenting forestry investment opportunities, with investors led to believe their funds would purchase land generating returns through government grants and forest harvesting. In reality, the company owned only 30 acres when investigated, insufficient to service the claimed 858 acres of investor holdings. Judge Melanie Greally characterised the offence as calculated fraud, noting significant harm to victims, many of whom had invested for their children. Hevey received five years imprisonment with the final year suspended, while Peile was sentenced to four years with one year suspended. The court heard that €1.98 million remained in company accounts when frozen by gardaí.
Piotr Waleza, 46, of Balbriggan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of handling stolen vehicles in 2014. He sold a Hyundai Santa Fe and a Ford Focus, each stolen three days earlier, for €6,000 and €5,850 respectively, to self‑employed buyers who suffered financial loss and emotional distress. The court heard that Waleza had a terminal illness with a poor prognosis and had been living in Ireland for 14 years, with prior convictions in Ireland and Poland for drink‑driving, fraud and driving without a licence. Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a suspended three‑year jail term, citing the seriousness of the offences and Waleza's ill health. She ordered €1,000 to be divided between the two injured parties and noted that Waleza had admitted to Gardaí that he knew the vehicles were stolen and sought to profit from them. The sentence reflects the judge's view that the crimes were pre‑meditated and dishonest.
Leendert Stolk, 50, a Dutch national living in England, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to fraudulently claiming €226,701.08 in social welfare benefits between June 2011 and June 2018. He falsely submitted claims for Jobseeker's Allowance, Rent Allowance, Back to Work Allowance and Back to School Allowance while residing outside Ireland, regularly returning every two weeks to claim payments. The court noted he had been entitled to Jobseeker's Allowance while in Ireland but never to Rent Allowance. Stolk had no prior convictions and was diagnosed with Obsessive‑Compulsive Disorder. He and his family offered €2,500 in compensation. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed a headline sentence of eight years, reduced to four years after considering his guilty plea, remorse, illness and lack of wealth. The sentence is a four‑year prison term.
Christina Joyce, 31, was found guilty of endangering Garda Thomas Gallagher and assaulting him on 9 April 2018 at Macken Villas, Grand Canal Dock. She also pleaded guilty to two counts of trespass, damaging a wall and a car. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to four‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment on 19 July 2018, a sentence upheld by the Court of Appeal. The appeal was dismissed by a three‑judge panel headed by Ms Justice Aileen Donnelly. The court noted that Joyce, while high on crack cocaine, drove her Volvo at speed, failed to stop when signalled, and fled after a confrontation with the garda. She had a history of 67 convictions, including 14 public‑order offences and 13 theft or fraud offences. The appeal was rejected, leaving the original sentence in place.
A 37‑year‑old Pakistani national was sentenced to eight years' imprisonment for rape, with the final 18 months suspended on condition of complying with Probation Service directions for 18 months after release. He was found guilty of rape but not guilty of sexual assault. The victim, who met the defendant on an online dating site, was raped in the back of his car on a beach in Dublin on 29 October 2015. She described feeling worthless, dropping out of college, and refusing food after the assault. The defendant had three young children and a partner who was unaware of the offence until the trial. He had prior convictions for speeding and deception, the latter resulting in a suspended three‑year sentence. The judge noted the seriousness of the rape, the breach of trust, and the defendant's deceptive character as aggravating factors, while his father role and good work attendance were mitigating factors.
An out‑of‑work butcher, Jason Mahony, 35, of Avonbeg, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to handling stolen property and money laundering. The offences relate to a break‑in at McLoughlin's butchers in Ballyfermot on 13 May 2016, when €15,861 was stolen. Mahony admitted that between 13 and 16 May he handled €9,705 in cash found in a rental car at Tymonville Lawn, where his former partner lived, and that he deposited €3,460 in his bank account, including a large amount of one‑ and two‑euro coins. Garda Detective Ronan Coffey presented evidence that the account was frozen and that €2,566 remained, leaving €904 unaccounted for. Mahony, who has prior theft convictions, was homeless at the time of the offence. He has since begun working at another butcher's shop, handed €500 to the court, and said he will pay the remaining €404 by September.
In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Karim Haddouche, a 48‑year‑old chef from Rathgar, pleaded guilty to four counts of theft and deception involving Ulster Bank. He had drawn two cheques, one for €7,600 and another for €7,500, from his Permanent TSB account and deposited them into his Ulster Bank account, despite the TSB account lacking sufficient funds. Following the cheques, he withdrew and transferred a total of €15,105, which the bank later discovered was not covered by the original account. Haddouche admitted to a gambling problem and that he had expected a friend to cover the cheques. The judge, Martin Nolan, imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended in full, and ordered that the €11,000 he had in his solicitor's possession be handed over to Ulster Bank within two weeks. No prior convictions were recorded. The case was prosecuted by Grainne O'Neill BL and defended by David Staunton BL.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 52‑year‑old Christopher Lovett, a businessman from Kilnamanagh, pleaded guilty to theft of money at the Bank of Ireland after using a cheque‑kiting scheme to keep his cleaning company afloat. He had drawn three cheques totaling almost €19,000 on a closed account, which were credited to him before the bank's clearance process. The cheques were later returned unpaid, leaving the bank at a loss. Lovett withdrew the funds in card, debit and cash transactions before the cheques cleared. He had no prior convictions and was described by the defence as a family man who had lost a major contract and was trying to repay the money. Judge Martin Nolan, noting the mitigating circumstances, imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year suspended sentence and required Lovett to repay €2,500 to the bank, with the bank retaining its own recourse for the remaining amount.
The German film company W2 Filmproduktion Vertriebs GmbH has brought a claim against Irish film producers Morgan O'Sullivan and James Flynn, alleging that the two diverted €40 million from Octagon Films Ltd to themselves or to corporate entities they control. The claim, which began in 2016, was heard by Ms Justice Teresa Pilkington in 2019. Both defendants deny the allegations. W2 seeks damages for breach of duty, fraud and conspiracy, and a declaration that the defendants must account for all profits made through Octagon. The court ordered discovery of documents relating to 21 productions, to be completed by October, and adjourned the full hearing to 2020. The case remains a derivative action on behalf of Octagon, with the defendants denying any misuse of the company's name or reputation.
A man from Aughavas, County Leitrim, has been convicted of theft and money laundering totalling €1.6 million at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Simon Gold, aged 54, had pleaded not guilty to 22 charges including money laundering, theft, deception, and control of false instruments spanning January 2010 to October 2012. Following over two weeks of evidence, a jury returned guilty verdicts on 20 counts after deliberating for more than 12 hours. The jury acquitted Gold on one count of deception relating to €28,000. The prosecution case outlined that Gold misrepresented himself as a qualified financier and merchant banker to secure large sums from investors who believed they were making down payments towards loans. One complainant transferred €1.6 million in October 2012 into what he thought was his own account but which Gold controlled. Gold was remanded in custody pending sentencing on 31 July.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has begun deliberating in the trial of a 54-year-old man from Aughavas, County Leitrim, who faces 22 charges including money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments. The accused has pleaded not guilty to all charges relating to events between January 2010 and October 2012. Evidence heard over eleven days established that the man represented himself as a qualified financier and merchant banker, using multiple names including Simon Gold, Simon Gould, Simon Magnier and Niall O'Donoghue. The prosecution alleges he defrauded four Irish men and a Danish businessman. The defence contended that the absence of complaints to gardaí undermined the prosecution case. After deliberating for nearly three hours, the jury was directed to adjourn and will resume consideration of the matter the following day.
A 46‑year‑old man was jailed for nine months after abducting his children and keeping them abroad for four years. He pleaded guilty to four charges of taking his children out of the country without consent at Dublin Airport on 8 November 2014. Judge Cormac Quinn sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, suspending the final 15 months on the condition that he keep the peace, behave well and engage with the Probation Service for three months after release. The court noted the seriousness of the offence, the young ages of the children (now 8 to 15), the length of time they were out of jurisdiction, the deception and pre‑planning involved, and the impact on the children and their mother. The man had no prior convictions and was a foreign national. The children were returned to their mother after his return to Ireland in October 2018, and neither the mother nor the children made victim impact statements.
At the trial of Simon Gold (54) of Augharan, Aughavas, Co. Leitrim, charged with 22 counts including money laundering, theft, deception, and control of false instruments between January 1, 2010, and October 22, 2012, the prosecution has stated that Gold 'is not Walter Mitty' and that he created fake documents that 'conned real people out of real money in real life'. Gold has pleaded not guilty. The jury has heard that Gold represented himself as a highly qualified financier, merchant banker, or financial consultant. The trial has heard that Gold accepted he used multiple names, including Simon Gould, Simon Magnier, and Niall O'Donoghue, and that he is responsible for an Ulster Bank account in the name of Anglo Irish Global Ltd. The prosecution has stated that Gold operated companies such as Anglo Irish Global Ltd, Belgravia Consultants Ltd, Elite Bank Group, and Irish Nationwide Bank, which he described as a 'virtual bank' not authorised by the Central Bank of Ireland. The prosecution alleges that Gold stole money from Danish businessman Kurt Lauridsen in 2012 and laundered it, and that he admitted to being in possession of two tranches of €800,000 belonging to Lauridsen. The prosecution also claims that two Irish men transferred €28,000 and £30,000 respectively into the account of Belgravia Consultants Ltd, and that two other Irish men transferred £10,000 each into the account of Anglo Irish Global Ltd. The trial continues tomorrow before Judge Nolan and a jury.
Marcellus Ebhodaghe, 33, was sentenced by Judge Elma Sheahan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years' imprisonment for possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct. The sentence was back‑dated to the date of the offence, 19 December 2018, and the final 12 months were suspended on strict conditions. Ebhodaghe was found in possession of €3,000 in €50 notes and three payment cards that did not bear his name. Garda Joseph Robinson described how he observed Ebhodaghe withdrawing large sums from an ATM, then moving to another machine, and how he was stopped by Garda colleagues. The money had been transferred into two bank accounts from Fáilte Ireland and a Luxembourg company on the direction of fraudulent emails purporting to be from the CEOs of both organisations. Ebhodaghe had no prior convictions and was living in the United Kingdom for nine years before the offence. Marcellus Ebhodaghe pleaded guilty.
A farmer from County Galway has given evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in the trial of a man charged with money laundering and related offences. The witness told the court that he had sought assistance in securing a €15 million loan to restructure substantial debts accrued through land purchases. He said he paid €28,000 to obtain purported proof of funds, but later received a fictitious letter from Irish Nationwide Bank bearing the signature of Simon Magnier, falsely confirming he and his father held over €961,000 in an account. The witness stated they had never banked with Irish Nationwide and the loan did not materialise. Simon Gold, aged 54, from Aughavas, County Leitrim, has pleaded not guilty to 22 charges including money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments alleged to have occurred between January 2010 and October 2012. The trial continues.
The trial of Simon Gold, a former psychic accused of money laundering, theft, deception, and controlling false instruments, continued at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Gold, who has pleaded not guilty to 22 charges relating to offences between January 1, 2010, and October 22, 2012, is alleged to have used multiple aliases, including Simon Magnier and Niall O'Donoghue. On the ninth day of evidence, witness Eamonn O'Toole, a dairy farmer from Co. Tipperary, testified that he sought a loan in 2011 and was directed to contact Simon Magnier. O'Toole stated he transferred £10,000 to Anglo Irish Global Ltd, believing Magnier was a principal banker, but the loan never materialised. He described attempts to contact the alleged loan manager, Niall O'Donoghue, as futile, remarking it would be easier to reach Donald Trump. O'Toole also testified that he was advised to place a teenager's name on loan documents. The matter was adjourned and continues before Judge Nolan and a jury.
Allianz secured a High Court injunction against Tessline Ltd, an Irish financial services company under Central Bank warning and Gardai investigation. Allianz alleged Tessline misled customers by presenting falsified insurance documents and social media posts claiming an insurance contract with Allianz, including a video by co‑founder Iain Cameron stating a $1 billion coverage. Allianz said it never insured Tessline and requested removal of the material; Tessline failed to comply, prompting court action. The injunction, granted by Justice Leonie Reynolds, bars Tessline from using or displaying falsified certificates linking Allianz, and from any advertising or promotional activity referencing Allianz or its trademarks. Tessline did not oppose the application. Allianz also sought orders against Google Ireland, Facebook Ireland and Pinterest Europe to remove related content, which were complied with. The case remains an ongoing fraud matter.
A developer told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on the eighth day of evidence that he "freaked straight away" upon discovering that a man presented as a prospective financier knew nothing of his Portuguese construction project. Frank Gleeson, testifying in the trial of Simon Gold (54), of Augharan, Aughavas, County Leitrim, recounted seeking a bridging loan after failing to secure funding through conventional channels. He stated that Gold had agreed to arrange £3 million in financing in exchange for a £30,000 deposit, which Mr Gleeson and business partners transferred to an account in the name of Belgravia Consultants UK Ltd. Mr Gleeson said he subsequently met the proposed investor in London, who demonstrated no knowledge of the project. When the deposit was transferred despite his objections, Mr Gleeson said he pursued the matter and later established that Gold used alternative names. He recovered only £10,000 of the £30,000. Gold has pleaded not guilty to twenty-two charges including money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments allegedly committed between January 2010 and October 2012.
Annette Sheehan, 38, of Harolds Cross, Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to 27 charges of theft and money laundering involving €148,289 between November 2017 and February 2018. Prosecution evidence alleged Sheehan, an office manager, transferred funds from her employer to her partner, Graham McAuley, 39, under implied threats. Detective Garda Rory O'Connor stated Sheehan was manipulated and considered a victim, noting that while all stolen employer funds were recovered, €25,000 of her personal savings given to McAuley was not. Judge Cormac Quinn acknowledged Sheehan's vulnerability, remorse, and lack of prior convictions. He described the case as exceptional, justifying a suspended sentence due to her cooperation and the garda's support. Sheehan was sentenced to 18 months in prison, suspended in full on strict conditions. Separately, McAuley, of Broc House, Nutley Lane, Dublin 4, was sentenced last February after pleading guilty to handling the stolen cash. He was ordered to carry out 240 hours of community service in lieu of an 18-month prison sentence.
Simon Gold, aged 54, with an address in Aughavas, County Leitrim, stands trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 22 charges including money laundering, theft, deception and control of false instruments, relating to events between January 2010 and October 2012. He has pleaded not guilty. During the seventh day of evidence, the court heard that a Danish businessman transferred €1.6 million in two tranches to what he believed was a custodial bank account with Ulster Bank in Dublin in October 2012. The account was subsequently frozen by gardaí. The businessman told the court he understood the funds were for a green energy investment opportunity and that he never authorised any withdrawals. A sum of €335,000 was transferred from the account to a third party without his instruction. Earlier testimony established that the accused used multiple aliases, including Simon Gould, Simon Magnier and Niall O'Donoghue. The trial continues before Judge Nolan and a jury.