Oyindamola Ojo, a 37‑year‑old Nigerian mother of six living in Balbriggan, Dublin, received a three‑year suspended sentence for her role in a complex money‑laundering scheme that involved Ireland, the UK and Nigeria. She opened seven credit‑union accounts across three Irish counties, using forged Electric Ireland bills and "compromised" UK debit and credit cards to withdraw €1,800 from St Mary's Credit Union, €2,500 from Palmerstown Credit Union and attempted to withdraw €4,800 from Dunboyne Credit Union between December 2014 and January 2015. Ojo also pleaded guilty to using false bills at Dunboyne, Nolan's and Waterford Credit Unions, and to dishonestly inducing a replacement of an iPhone 6 Plus at Carphone Warehouse. She claimed she was drawn into the operation by an ex‑partner and a friend, both based in Nigeria, and that she feared for her three children's safety. Ojo had no prior convictions.
The High Court appointed a receiver over shares in three Irish aviation firms—Fastway Leasing DAC, Avion Leasing Ltd DAC, and City Leasing DAC—linked to Russian businessman Rashid M Mursekayev. The shares are held in trust for Mursekayev, who is under criminal investigation in Russia for alleged fraud related to financial difficulties at Vim Avia Airlines, a company he co‑owns. The court's orders were sought by lawyers for the US‑registered firm Volgadnepr‑Unique Air Cargo Inc, which had obtained a €4 million judgment in German courts against a German‑registered firm, ACG Air Cargo, whose loan was guaranteed by Mursekayev. The receiver, Mr Jim Luby of McStay Luby, is to hold all shares and prevent any transfer or disposition pending further court orders. The orders were granted ex‑parte by Mr Justice Paul Gilligan and the case was adjourned to a date next week.
A 51‑year‑old mother of three, Jadesola Agbalade, pleaded guilty on 20 July 2016 to knowingly distributing child pornography after she forwarded a clip of a child being raped to a friend via WhatsApp. The clip, showing a child aged between two and five, was an international recording that had circulated since about 2014. Gardaí discovered the clip when investigating a man arrested for credit‑card fraud at Dublin Airport in July 2017; the man's phone contained the clip and the sender's number traced back to Agbalade. She admitted to sending the clip to a female friend with three young children to warn her against leaving her children with her boyfriend. Agbalade has no prior convictions, lives in temporary accommodation, and will be sentenced on 9 November. The court ordered a probation report and remanded her on continuing bail.
Michael Darcy, 37, of Parkhill West, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to attempting to commit an indictable offence of deception by making a false insurance claim to Axa Insurance Limited. The offence was alleged to have occurred on 1 September 2013. Judge Karen O'Connor set a sentencing hearing for 23 November, when full facts will be considered.
Siobhan Maguire, aged 47, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment for fraud and theft offences that spanned 14 years. She worked as a personal assistant and shared secretary at two Dublin offices, where she fraudulently lodged 660 cheques into her own bank account, ranging from a few hundred euros to €5,000 each. The total amount stolen was €1,187,616, of which about €325,000 remains outstanding. Maguire pleaded guilty in the District Court and entered a signed guilty plea before the Circuit Criminal Court. She had no prior convictions. The judge noted her early plea, full admissions, remorse, and the impact on her young children, and imposed concurrent four‑year terms for each count. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the judge taking into account the financial details and the circumstances of the theft. The former employers received partial reimbursement from banks and did not wish to give victim impact statements.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 20‑year‑old Nicolae Carmen pleaded guilty to stealing €10,000 worth of jewellery from an elderly couple in Artane on 2 October 2015. Carmen, who had previously been convicted five times for theft and fraud, posed as a Spanish charity collector. She knocked on the door of an 84‑year‑old man, received €5, and asked to use the bathroom. While the man waited, she went upstairs, returned, thanked him and left. The couple's wife later found the jewellery missing from a bedroom box. The stolen items included a diamond engagement ring, charm bracelet, gold chains, an eternity ring, earrings and cuff links. A palm print from the box matched Carmen. None of the items were recovered. The judge adjourned sentencing to December to consider the couple's household income.
In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, 36‑year‑old Ashley Lucas pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering for setting up a bank account at AIB Drogheda on 24 March 2015. The account was used to defraud Swiss student Marlene Lienau, who transferred €1,040 for a room that did not exist. Lucas admitted opening the account with a false utility bill and a passport, and he claimed he was instructed by a Nigerian man in the UK. Lienau suffered an economic loss of €1,346 and expressed distress at being scammed and the impact on her view of Ireland. Lucas has no prior convictions, has complied with bail, and has expressed remorse, offering to pay the outstanding sum. Judge Karen O'Connor warned Lucas that a custodial sentence will be imposed and postponed sentencing to 15 December to obtain an updated probation report. The co‑accused, who pleaded guilty to using a false instrument, received an 18‑month suspended sentence.
Siobhan Maguire, 47, of The Brambles, Skerries, Dublin, pleaded guilty to 32 theft and fraud offences for fraudulently lodging 660 cheques from her employers' accounts into her personal bank account between 2001 and 2015. The total amount stolen was €1,187,616. She used the money to pay her mortgage, take holidays and support her children. The fraud was discovered in January 2015 when a bank employee noticed suspicious cheques deposited into her account. Maguire was suspended, resigned, and cooperated fully with the Garda investigation, admitting all offences. She has no prior convictions. The employers have been partially reimbursed by banks; the remaining loss is about €325,000. Judge Patricia Ryan adjourned sentencing to 26 October and remanded Maguire on bail. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after her guilty pleas in the District Court. The article does not state any sentencing outcome.
A 62‑year‑old man named Owen McKeever was found guilty of fraudulently claiming more than €40,000 of jobseekers allowance in the name of his brother Brendan between 2009 and 2013. The fraud was uncovered through facial imaging technology introduced by the Department of Social and Family Affairs in 2013, which matched a genuine photograph of McKeever with one purporting to be his brother. McKeever had also been making a legitimate claim in his own name at the time. He pleaded guilty to 50 counts of social welfare fraud, with a total loss to the exchequer of €41,871. McKeever admitted the fraud immediately after being interviewed by Garda Ian Abbey and said, "I put my hands up." He has begun repaying €50 per week and the court has adjourned sentencing to 28 January to allow further repayment.
A 25‑year‑old Dublin man, Dean Comerford, was sentenced to one year in jail for providing false information in a passport application. The application, which contained his personal details, was submitted with a photograph that had been spliced to include a different person's image. Comerford had attended Tallaght Garda station in January 2015 to obtain a certification for the application, and the photo was stamped normally. The passport office's fraud department later discovered the splicing. Judge Karen O'Connor found the premeditated nature of the offence aggravating and imposed a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions, including 12 months of probation supervision. The case also involved co‑accused Derek Corr, who received a five‑year sentence with four years suspended, and a GP who was prosecuted for endorsing the identity form without meeting Comerford. The court noted Comerford's history of 14 convictions, including public order and road traffic offences. Dean Comerford pleaded guilty.
Brian Bobey, 64, was sentenced to 18 months in jail at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for fraudulently claiming his late mother's pension for 17 years, from 1997 to 2013. He admitted stealing €158,726 from the State. Judge Patricia Ryan rejected a repayment plan of €50 a week, noting it would take over 63 years to repay. The court considered the long period of fraud serious enough for custodial punishment but excused repayment due to Bobey's medical conditions, including blindness in one eye from a tumour and osteoporosis, and his remorse. Bobey has 15 prior convictions, the latest in 2002 for drink driving. He remains living at his parents' former home in Walkinstown Parade with his partner and daughter, receiving €195 a week in social welfare and paying €35 a week in rent.
Catherine Simpson, a 72‑year‑old pensioner, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to ten counts of social welfare fraud committed between 1998 and 2016, totalling €206,696.09. She used two PPS numbers to claim Deserted Wives' Allowance and the non‑contributory State pension under her married name, while working under her maiden name, Maguire, and receiving additional benefits such as Job Seekers' Benefit, Illness Benefit and the Contributory State Pension. The fraud was uncovered in 2015 after facial image‑matching software was introduced by the Department of Social Protection. Simpson was sentenced to three years in prison, fully suspended, after expressing remorse and cooperation. She is required to keep the peace and be of good behaviour for three years, and her Contributory State Pension is being docked by €20 as repayment to the State. The court noted her long‑term alcoholism recovery, liver cirrhosis, and the support of her family.
Richard Burbridge, 46, of Dublin, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to eleven sample counts of stealing from the Department of Social Protection between April 2009 and December 2014. The court heard that Burbridge, who operated a courier business with an annual turnover exceeding €100,000, collected disability allowance payments from the post office in Inchicore. Although the payments were conditional on his income remaining below a specific threshold, his business generated net profits ranging from €33,000 to €41,500 during the period. Garda Thomas Burke stated that Burbridge received €66,961 in overpayments without entitlement. Judge Karen O'Connor noted that the case differed from typical social welfare fraud involving social deprivation, as the offending was discovered when a former employee found no record of PRSI payments. Burbridge's defence, John Noonan BL, highlighted that the defendant had already repaid over €10,000 through monthly payments of €400 and no longer claimed benefits. Judge O'Connor suspended a three-year jail sentence for five years, conditional on Burbridge continuing his monthly repayments to the Department. She noted that the Department of Public Prosecutions could apply to the court if his circumstances changed, stating that repaying the debt was more beneficial to the excheurer than incarceration.
The Court of Appeal has reserved its judgment on an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions seeking a review of Michael Murray's 15-year prison sentence as unduly lenient. Murray, 46, formerly of Killiney, Dublin, was found guilty by a unanimous jury of rape, attempted rape, oral rape, aggravated sexual assault, child abduction, threats to kill, false imprisonment, and theft committed in February 2010. He had previously denied the charges and lost an appeal against his conviction in March. Prosecutors argued the sentence failed to account for aggravating factors, including pre-meditation, deception, and explicit threats to the victim's four-year-old son. Defense counsel contended the trial judge exercised proper discretion. The court, comprising Justices Birmingham, Mahon, and Edwards, heard submissions but did not finalize the sentence, instead adjourning the matter to reserve judgment.
The High Court has rejected an application for leave to appeal against the extradition of a Roscommon man wanted in the United Kingdom in connection with a tax fraud investigation. Thomas Joseph O'Connor, aged 49 and resident in Roscommon, had sought to challenge his surrender to British authorities on grounds relating to the UK's withdrawal from the European Union. His legal team argued that Article 50 notification created uncertainty regarding the protection of his fundamental rights post-Brexit. Justice Aileen Donnelly declined the application, finding no evidence of real risk to his rights. The court had previously granted a temporary postponement of Mr O'Connor's extradition on humanitarian grounds. A stay on the extradition order has been granted to permit an application for leave to appeal to the Supreme Court.
The Supreme Court has reserved its decision in an appeal by Gary Davis, a 29-year-old man from Co. Wicklow, against an order for his extradition to the United States. US authorities allege Davis was an administrator of the Silk Road website under the pseudonym 'Libertas' between June and October 2013. He is wanted to face trial on charges including conspiracy to distribute narcotics, conspiracy to commit computer hacking, and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The High Court ordered his extradition last year, and the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal in March. The Supreme Court agreed to hear the case on grounds of public importance. Davis, represented by Cormac Ó Dúlacháin SC and John Peart SC, argues that extradition would breach his constitutional and European Convention on Human Rights rights to bodily integrity and life. He claims he suffers from Asperger's Syndrome and that detention in the US would be inhumane, potentially leading to suicidal ideation and severe mental health deterioration due to limited family access. The Attorney General, represented by Remy Farrell SC, argued there is nothing to prevent extradition. The five-judge panel, comprising Justices O'Donnell, McKechnie, MacMenamin, Dunne, and O'Malley, heard submissions on Tuesday and reserved its judgment. Davis remains on bail pending the Supreme Court's decision.
In July 2016, Denis Casey and John Bowe were convicted by a jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for conspiring to mislead investors about Anglo Irish Bank's value between March and September 2008. Casey, 57, former chief executive of Irish Life and Permanent, received a sentence of two years and nine months, while Bowe, 53, former head of capital markets at Anglo Irish Bank, was sentenced to two years. The Court of Appeal upheld these convictions in a decision issued last month. Casey's counsel, Michael O'Higgins SC, announced that the appeal of the sentence would not proceed. Instead, O'Higgins requested a hearing before a full three‑judge Supreme Court panel to address a technical point in the Court of Appeal's 138‑page judgment, arguing that the Supreme Court might lack jurisdiction to consider the issue if it was not included in the appellate judgment. The matter was scheduled for a hearing on Thursday.
Atif Saeed, a 29‑year‑old Pakistani pizza delivery man, pleaded guilty to removing €5,000 from the State that was part of a €2.8 million online fraud. He claimed he believed he was helping a third party pay university fees when he transferred the money to the UK. The court found he was not involved in the fraud itself and accepted his guilty plea as reckless. Judge Karen O'Connor noted Saeed had no prior convictions, lived frugally and had not benefited materially from the offence. She imposed a two‑year sentence, backdated to his entry into custody, and suspended the balance from today. The case remains under investigation, with most of the €2.8 million recovered and the remaining funds frozen in Saeed's account. The court highlighted the difficulty Saeed faced in prison, including lack of visitors and observing Ramadan.
Carol Clarke, a 57‑year‑old mother of five, pleaded guilty to stealing €104,431 from the Department of Social Welfare between 1994 and 2011 by pretending to be her sister. The theft was uncovered in 2012 when gardaí found claims made under her sister's name. Clarke was arrested, denied the allegations, but later admitted guilt after handwriting and fingerprint tests. She had a prior conviction for handling stolen property in 1999. At the sentence hearing, Judge Karen O'Connor imposed a two‑year prison term, which she suspended in full, citing the "heartbreak and tragedy" in Clarke's family, including the deaths of two sons and her husband's Huntington's disease. The judge also noted Clarke's role as full‑time caregiver for her ill daughter and grandchildren, and she was not required to compensate the State due to limited financial means. Clarke is paying back the debt in €50 instalments. The court heard that the offence was premeditated and of some duration.
CCC Nuacht, a court‑reporting agency, announced a settlement with Leo Sherlock, trading as The Liberal.ie, over four copyright infringements between June 2015 and November 2016. The infringements involved the publication of CCC Nuacht's reports on a Romanian fraud case, a babysitter's sexual abuse conviction, and a former Church of Ireland worker's rape and molestation conviction. Sherlock repeatedly ignored attempts to resolve the breaches. The settlement requires Sherlock to publish a full apology on The Liberal.ie's website by 13 July, keep it on the main page for at least 48 hours, and post a link to the apology on the site's Facebook and Twitter accounts for 24 hours. The apology will remain permanently online. Sherlock also agreed to pay damages. CCC Nuacht thanked solicitor Rossa McMahon for representing the agency and highlighted the importance of licensed court reporting for accurate journalism and justice administration.
A Roscommon businessman facing extradition to Britain over a £5 million tax fraud has had his case reserved for judgement in the High Court. Thomas Joseph O'Connor, aged 49, was convicted in his absence at Blackfriars Crown Court in 2007 and sentenced to four-and-a-half years imprisonment for defrauding the British revenue. An extradition warrant issued in 2009 has been upheld through multiple appeal stages, with the Supreme Court dismissing his appeal in March of this year. In reopened proceedings, O'Connor's counsel argued that Brexit rendered the extradition improper, claiming uncertainty about his legal protections post-departure would leave him in legal limbo. The State's counsel contended the Brexit outcome remained unknown and speculation about future UK legislation was premature. Justice Aileen Donnelly reserved judgement to 25 July. O'Connor remains on bail pending that decision.
A construction company director from Roscommon faces uncertainty over his extradition to the United Kingdom, the High Court heard on 4 July 2017. Thomas Joseph O'Connor, aged 49, was convicted in his absence at Blackfriars Crown Court of involvement in a £5 million tax fraud and sentenced to four-and-a-half years' imprisonment in January 2007. Following extradition proceedings begun in 2009, the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court dismissed his appeals in 2015 and March 2017 respectively. His counsel argued that Brexit creates a "legal limbo" for Mr O'Connor, contending he should have a complete re-hearing due to uncertainty surrounding the protection of his rights after the UK's planned departure from the European Union on 29 March 2019. The State's counsel countered that such concerns were premature speculation, noting no evidence suggested Mr O'Connor would lose fundamental rights. Justice Aileen Donnelly remanded him on continuing bail, with the hearing adjourned to resume the following day.
Patricia Sweeney, 60, a cleaner at a primary school, was found to have defrauded the State of €31,700.70 by claiming job‑seeker's allowance while working 12 hours a week on a casual basis, and by forging "declaration of unemployment" forms signed with the principal's name and the school stamp. She had been employed at the school for 19 years and had always received a weekly wage of €112. Sweeney admitted to using the stamp without permission and to signing the principal's name on the dockets. She pleaded guilty to 21 counts of theft and forgery between February 2011 and February 2015. The court imposed 240 hours of community service in lieu of a 12‑month prison sentence on the first count and two‑year suspended sentences on the remaining counts. She remains on job‑seeker's allowance, with weekly deductions of €27.90 until the debt is cleared.
A construction company director from Roscommon facing extradition to the United Kingdom over a £5 million tax fraud will argue before the Court of Appeal that Brexit prevents his removal from the State. Thomas Joseph O'Connor, aged 49, was sentenced in his absence to four-and-a-half years imprisonment following conviction at Blackfriars Crown Court in 2007. He returned to Ireland without attending his sentencing hearing and was arrested on an extradition warrant in 2009. The High Court ordered his extradition, but O'Connor appealed. The Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal in October 2015 and the Supreme Court subsequently rejected a further appeal. At hearing today, O'Connor's counsel submitted that the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union rendered extradition impossible and sought leave for a Habeas Corpus application. The bench raised concerns about the legal appropriateness of such proceedings for a person on bail. Re-entered High Court extradition proceedings are scheduled for July 4 and 5.
Gerard Lawlor, 67, of Balrothery, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 11 counts of fraudulently claiming €167,873 in social welfare payments from 2005 to 2015. The fraud was uncovered during a Revenue audit of his former wife's dieting company, revealing that he had claimed pre‑retirement payments for himself and adult dependent allowances for his estranged wife. Lawlor had also failed to declare self‑employment and property transactions. He has no prior convictions and is now receiving a state pension of €183 a week, reduced by €28 to repay the debt. A probation report highlighted that his sister, Patricia, could not care for their severely disabled sister without his help. Judge Karen O'Connor, after hearing the report, imposed a three‑year suspended sentence on strict conditions, citing the detrimental effect imprisonment would have on his sisters' care. The sentence was suspended in full, with no custodial term imposed.
Anthony Perry, aged 51, was jailed for two years after a jury at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court convicted him of forgery and theft for posing as his late brother to buy a house. Perry had applied for a birth certificate and passport in his brother's name, used the documents to open a bank account, and secured a €300,000 mortgage from Start Mortgages. He bought a house and a granny flat in Offaly, took out insurance policies on both, and after the properties burned down in August 2008 he claimed €304,216 from FBD Insurance. The insurer later repudiated the payment when investigators discovered Perry's false identity. Perry pleaded not guilty to eight counts under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act, but was found guilty on all counts. The court noted that the fire was caused maliciously by unknown third parties and had nothing to do with Perry.
Catherine Callanan, 51, of Ballinroad, Dungarvan, was convicted of two counts of deception for hiring a bouncy castle and a minibus for her son's 21st birthday through the Waterford Vocational Education Committee (VEC). The jury found her guilty in 2015 and Judge Melanie Greally imposed a wholly suspended four‑month sentence. Callanan appealed, arguing that the jury should not have considered the deception. The Court of Appeal, in a three‑judge panel, upheld the conviction. Justice Alan Mahon held that the jury was correctly left to decide whether Callanan intended to deceive the VEC by invoicing the costs to the committee and whether she had sought authorisation. The appeal was dismissed, confirming the original verdict and the suspended sentence. The case highlighted the role of the VEC and the responsibilities of its staff in authorising purchases. The Court referred to a 1837 precedent on implied deception. The decision was delivered by Justice Mahon, with Justices Birmingham and Edwards presiding. Catherine Callanan pleaded not guilty.
Conrad Mason, 46, a former director of C&G Logistics Group, stole €908,652 from his employer between January 2010 and January 2015 to fund alcoholism and gambling. He pleaded guilty to 25 counts of theft and fraud, covering 234 wrongful transactions. The court found the breach of trust severe, damaging the company's cash reserves and the trust of its owner, David Dixon. Mason received a three‑year prison sentence, with the final 18 months suspended, due to no prior convictions and cooperation with the Garda investigation. The sentence reflects the extent of the financial loss and the impact on the company's operations, while acknowledging Mason's lack of previous offences and his willingness to admit guilt. The judgment does not alter the ongoing legal proceedings or any future appeals.
In a High Court hearing on 17 May 2017, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan ordered the Gardaí to report on an investigation into claims that 13 families living at 16 Annesley Bridge Road, Fairview, Dublin 3, were paying rent to an unknown third party named Brian. The judge had previously issued orders in favour of a bank‑appointed receiver, Mr Simon Coyle, requiring the families to vacate the premises by Wednesday morning. Mr Coyle, appointed by the Bank of Ireland in January 2015, had brought proceedings against the residents and the property's owner, Mr John Farrelly, after failing to take possession of the property. Mr Farrelly denied any connection with the alleged rent‑collector and claimed the families were squatters. The judge adjourned the case to Thursday morning, directing a Garda representative to attend court to investigate potential fraud and allowing Mr Farrelly to submit a sworn statement in the contempt proceedings.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former company director Conrad Mason, aged 46, admitted to stealing €908,652 from his employer, C&G Logistics Group, between January 2010 and January 2015. The theft involved 234 wrongful transactions, including 25 counts of theft and fraud. Mason, who had worked as an accountant since 1997 and became director in 2004, used payroll software and bulk payments to divert funds to his own Bank of Ireland and Ulster Bank accounts, as well as a joint account with his wife. He also transferred over €250,000 to two personal accounts between August 2014 and July 2015. The fraud was uncovered after a suspicious €3,000 payment in July 2015, leading to his arrest in April 2016. Mason pleaded guilty and will be sentenced on 23 May. The court noted his alcoholism and gambling addiction as motivating factors, and that he had no prior convictions.
In a High Court hearing on 10 May 2017, Mr Justice Paul Gilligan directed the Garda fraud squad to investigate allegations that 13 families, including 12 children, were paying rent to an unknown third party named "Brian" for units at 16 Annesley Bridge Road, Fairview, Dublin 3. The families, who have been living there for up to two years, reportedly paid €180‑€200 per week in cash and had no receipts. Mr Justice Gilligan noted that "Brian" does not represent the property owner, Mr John Farrelly, nor the Bank of Ireland‑appointed receiver, Simon Coyle, and that the families may be "taken advantage of." He reaffirmed the receiver's orders requiring the families to vacate the premises and gave them a week to leave, adjourned the case for a week, and referred the matter to the Garda Commissioner for a fraud investigation.
Donna Magee, 47, of Holyfields, Dungannon, was convicted of stealing €270,597 from O'Mara Geraghty McCourt Solicitors while she worked as a financial controller in 2008‑2009. She pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended. The Court of Appeal dismissed her appeal, finding the 18‑month net custodial term "lenient" for a fraud of a quarter‑million euros. The judge noted Magee's prior convictions, including a nine‑month sentence for VAT fraud in 2014 and an earlier fraud conviction in 2002, and the partial recovery of €173,000 through civil proceedings. The appeal was heard six weeks after the sentence was imposed, and the Court of Appeal, led by Justice Alan Mahon, upheld the original sentence. The decision was made in the context of Magee's status as a mother of one and the impact on her 14‑year‑old daughter.
Carol Clarke, a 57‑year‑old mother of five, admitted to stealing €104,431 in social welfare fraud over a 17‑year period by posing as her sister Bernadette Darcy. The theft occurred at the Phibsborough post office between February 1994 and July 2011. Gardaí discovered the fraud in 2012 when they found welfare claims made in Darcy's name; Darcy claimed she was unaware of the claims. Clarke was arrested shortly after the discovery. She initially denied the allegations but later admitted guilt following handwriting and fingerprint tests, and after staff at the post office identified her. Clarke has a prior conviction for handling stolen property in 1999. She pleaded guilty to two counts of stealing from the Department of Social Welfare. The court heard that she used the stolen money to support her family and to pay off one son's drug debts.
Reginald O'Donnell, 64, was sentenced to a suspended two‑year jail term after pleading guilty to three counts of theft from the Department of Social Protection. The offences, dated 2002, 2007 and 2011, involved him claiming pension payments on behalf of his deceased father, Thomas O'Donnell, who had died in 1988. Social welfare inspectors discovered the fraud when they attempted to present a Presidential Bounty cheque to Thomas in 2009. O'Donnell admitted the theft, repaid the €597, and the judge noted his age, cooperation and prior admissions.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Jonathan Dowdall and his father, Patrick Dowdall, admitted to falsely imprisoning and threatening to kill Alexander Hurley at their Navan Road, Dublin 7, home on January 15, 2015. Both defendants pleaded guilty to these charges. The court viewed mobile phone footage showing Jonathan Dowdall, wearing a balaclava, holding a tea-towel to Mr. Hurley's face and pouring water over his head. Prosecutors stated the Dowdalls believed Mr. Hurley was attempting to defraud them by seeking bank details under the guise of being a barrister. Mr. Hurley, who has two prior fraud convictions, was bound to a chair for three hours and subjected to threats of violence. In a victim impact statement, Mr. Hurley described the incident as brutal, noting he lost his job and friends and that his psychological injuries would never fully heal. Defense counsel apologized on behalf of the defendants, who have no previous convictions. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy, presiding with Judges Sinead Ni Chulachain and James Faughnan, remanded the Dowdalls in custody until May 19, when they will be sentenced.
Gerard Lawlor, 67, of Balrothery, Tallaght, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 11 counts of fraudulently claiming €167,873 in social welfare payments from 2005 to 2015. The fraud was uncovered during a Revenue audit of his former wife's dieting company, revealing that Lawlor had claimed pre‑retirement payments for himself and adult dependent allowances for his estranged wife. He failed to declare self‑employment, property sales, and work in a garage with his father and brother. Lawlor has no prior convictions and is now receiving a state pension of €183 a week, reduced by €28 to repay the debt. He has paid €11,000 to the department as a token of remorse and has no assets. Lawlor, who lives rent‑free in his sister's home after selling investment properties at a loss, has asked for a non‑custodial sentence to continue caring for his disabled sister.
A construction company director from Roscommon has secured a four-week postponement of his extradition to the United Kingdom on humanitarian grounds. Thomas Joseph O'Connor, aged 49, is wanted in England for his involvement in a £5 million tax fraud. He was sentenced in absentia at Blackfriars Crown Court in London in January 2007 to four and a half years imprisonment. Following conviction, O'Connor failed to attend his sentencing and now faces additional charges of absconding. Arrested on an extradition warrant in 2009, he subsequently lost appeals in both the Court of Appeal and the Supreme Court. At the High Court hearing on Thursday, O'Connor requested postponement to care for his terminally ill brother, who is undergoing palliative care in Roscommon. Medical evidence confirmed O'Connor's involvement in his brother's treatment and hospital visits. Judge Aileen Donnelly granted the application, citing particular closeness between the brothers. O'Connor must reappear on May 5th, with stricter conditions applicable to any further extension request.
John McMahon, 59, director of the Dublin advertising firm Rain Communications, was sentenced in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, for failing to pay between €57,000 and €58,000 in VAT to Revenue from 2006 to 2010. He pleaded guilty to five counts of failing to remit VAT and four counts of failing to file correct returns. McMahon had set up the company in 2005 with a co‑director, and the firm entered liquidation in 2012. During the period in question, McMahon's co‑director paid the VAT owed, while McMahon himself contributed €140,000 of personal capital to keep the company solvent. He had no prior convictions, was described as a hard‑working member of society, and had a wife and two adult children. The judge noted his financial pressure and the difficulty of detecting the fraud, but deemed an immediate custodial sentence necessary.
Michael O'Brien, aged 24, was jailed for three years after pleading guilty to four counts of deception for scamming an exceptionally vulnerable woman out of €90,000. The victim, who was receiving psychiatric treatment and caring for her 95‑year‑old mother, was left with only €93 after repeatedly handing over €5,000 installments to O'Brien. He claimed to work for a "boss man" and that he had collected the money to repay a debt of €4,000, but he received only €600. The court accepted his guilty pleas on the basis that his culpability was limited to €20,000, but imposed a custodial term without suspension, citing the aggravated nature of the deception and the severe impact on the victim. No other parties were investigated. O'Brien had no prior convictions and earned a living through odd jobs.
Jonathan Slattery (36) and William Slattery (63), directors of Slattery Ventures Limited, pleaded guilty to multiple VAT offences, including delivering incorrect returns, claiming unentitled repayments, and failing to keep records between 2005 and 2008. Their 2015 suspended three‑year sentences were reviewed by the Director of Public Prosecutions and converted to eight‑month custodial terms by the Court of Appeal. The case centred on the Ballycummin fast‑food outlet, where the company's cash registers were manipulated: the NRGT function was deliberately disabled and every second z‑read was skipped, leading to unrecorded cash receipts and under‑payment of VAT. The estimated loss to Revenue was €223,965, in addition to €70,000 already recovered. The Slatterys provided limited cooperation, made no admissions, and had no prior convictions. The Court of Appeal accepted mitigation but imposed the eight‑month jail term, requiring the Slatterys to surrender to Gardaí on 27 March 2024.
The Supreme Court will hear an appeal by 28‑year‑old Gary Davis of Wicklow, who is alleged to have been an administrator of the Silk Road website, against an order for his extradition to the United States. Davis faces US charges of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, conspiracy to commit computer hacking and conspiracy to commit money laundering. The High Court ordered his extradition in August, and the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal in September. Davis now seeks to have the Supreme Court consider his extradition, arguing that he suffers from Asperger's Syndrome and that extradition would breach his constitutional rights and the European Convention on Human Rights. The Supreme Court, satisfied that the case raises points of law of general public importance, has agreed to hear the appeal.
Michael O'Brien, aged 24, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four counts of deception for taking €90,000 from a vulnerable woman who was a psychiatric ward outpatient and a carer for her 95‑year‑old mother. The woman, who had only €93 left in her bank account, was persuaded by O'Brien to pay for driveway re‑paving (€7,500) and house painting (€1,500) that were never completed. He then posed as an accountant and convinced her to pay €5,000 instalments for a promised €76,000 cheque. She withdrew €5,000 from two accounts on several occasions, leaving her with €93. Gardaí arrested O'Brien when he met the woman in St James's Hospital carpark. He claimed he was working for a "bossman" and owed €4,000 to him, but the prosecution accepted his plea as representing ten counts with a culpability of €20,000.
Michelle Butterworth, 56, was sentenced to one year in prison for her role in a credit‑card fraud gang that operated over three weekends in September and October 2016. The gang travelled to Ireland from the UK, using fake credit cards to purchase high‑value goods worth €8,875, including Sony Playstations, Gucci watches, Samsung and Apple smartphones, and a Claddagh ring. Butterworth admitted her involvement and identified her accomplices after one of them nearly ran her over while fleeing from Gardaí. She had 31 prior convictions for similar fraud and theft offences in the UK, plus a conviction for running a brothel. Her defence counsel argued that she committed the offences to repay a loan taken to bury her husband, who died in 2013. Judge Karen O'Connor noted her early plea and imposed a one‑year sentence back‑dated to October 2016. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Michelle Butterworth pleaded guilty.
Gary Davis, a 28‑year‑old Wicklow resident, is alleged to have been an administrator of the Silk Road website, which sold illicit drugs and hacking software. U.S. authorities seek his extradition on charges of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, conspiracy to commit computer hacking and conspiracy to commit money laundering, with a potential life sentence if convicted. The High Court ordered his extradition in August, and the Court of Appeal dismissed his appeal last week, ruling the appeal was not based on a point of law. Davis has been in custody since his arrest in January 2014, having been on bail for three years. He has argued that extradition would expose him to an inhumane environment, citing his Asperger's Syndrome, depression and anxiety, and the lack of suitable care in U.S. prisons. The Court of Appeal confirmed a 15‑day stay on his surrender, but the appeal was ultimately rejected, leaving the extradition order in place.
Michelle Butterworth, 56, of Stanley Street, Rochdale, faces jail after pleading guilty to 13 credit card fraud offences committed over three weekends in September and October 2016. The offences occurred in Galway, Kildare and Dublin, where she and a gang used high‑quality fake credit cards to purchase €8,875 worth of goods, including Sony Playstations, Gucci watches, Samsung and Apple smartphones and a Claddagh ring. The gang targeted Field's Jewellers, Argos and Gamestop, exploiting a loyalty scheme and manual card entry to bypass security checks. Garda James Codd reported that the gang was apprehended after staff became suspicious and a surveillance operation led to arrests at a petrol station. Butterworth admitted her role, identified accomplices and claimed the fraud was to repay a loan taken to bury her husband, who died in 2013. Judge Karen O'Connor remanded her in continuing custody on 10 March, when a sentence will be imposed.
David Marsh, a 30‑year‑old former IT worker, was sentenced to four‑and‑a‑half months in jail for stealing €1,200 from a colleague in Stepaside, Dublin, by promising her All‑Ireland football final tickets. The offence, committed on 17 September 2015, was added to a two‑year sentence he is already serving for earlier scams. Marsh had previously defrauded a Limerick couple out of €76,000 by promising a cheap house, and had scammed colleagues and tag‑rugby teammates out of nearly €8,000 by claiming he could secure tickets to a Conor McGregor UFC fight. He pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where the judge noted the similarity of this offence to his earlier conduct. Marsh admitted the fraud, apologized, and a psychological report indicated depression and suicidal ideation. The judge imposed the new sentence to run consecutively with the existing two‑year term.
Gary Davis, a 28‑year‑old Wicklow man, is alleged to have been an administrator of the Silk Road website, which sold illegal drugs and hacking software. He faces extradition to the United States on charges of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, conspiracy to commit computer hacking and conspiracy to commit money laundering, with a potential life sentence if convicted. Davis has appealed the extradition order on the basis of his Asperger's Syndrome and depression, arguing that he would be subjected to inhumane treatment and lack of appropriate care in a U.S. prison. The Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, stating that the grounds were not a point of law and that the High Court's decision was based on a thorough consideration of evidence, including medical reports. The court affirmed that the extradition order stands, and Davis will be extradited after a 15‑day period. The case remains pending in the United States.
Raymond O'Hara, 50, received an 18‑month prison sentence for stealing seven bottles of spirits from the Clifton Court Hotel in August 2015. He has 231 prior convictions, including 144 theft and fraud offences and 46 road traffic offences, and was released from custody four weeks before the offence. The judge, Pauline Codd, noted the burglary had caused nervousness among staff and imposed the sentence with the final eight months suspended, conditional on one year of probation, remaining drug‑ and alcohol‑free, and attending residential drug treatment if directed. O'Hara intends to use his time in prison as a "health farm," attending the gym, Narcotics Anonymous, and studying computers, claiming he will address his drug and alcohol issues and improve his health. The court accepted his plea of guilty and the conditions of the suspended portion.
Derek Corr, 31, was convicted in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for orchestrating a passport fraud scheme that involved persuading his GP, Dr Lewis Regan, to sign a false identity certificate. The court found Corr was the main person behind an attempt to obtain a passport for an unknown individual, though the intended recipient remains unidentified. Corr received a five‑year sentence, with four years suspended, to run concurrently with a one‑year term he is already serving for a knife attack on a neighbour. Judge Pauline Codd described the offence as "at the higher end of the mid range." Corr pleaded guilty to providing false information in a passport application in January 2015. The case also involved a third defendant who was still at large, and Dr Regan had previously been sentenced under the Probation Act for filling out the false form, with no conviction recorded.
Gary Davis, 28, of Wicklow, is alleged to have administered the Silk Road website, which dealt in illegal drugs and hacking software. He faces US charges of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, conspiracy to commit computer hacking and conspiracy to commit money laundering, with a potential life sentence if convicted. The High Court ordered his extradition in August, but he appealed. The Court of Appeal heard the appeal today and has reserved judgment. Davis's lawyers argue that his Asperger's Syndrome and depression would make him vulnerable to inhumane treatment and violence in US prisons, and that he would be isolated from family support. They cite expert testimony from Professor Simon Baron‑Cohen and claim the US prison system lacks the individualized care he needs. The Attorney General's counsel maintains that extradition is lawful and that mental health does not preclude imprisonment. The three‑judge panel will decide the case later.