The trial of three former Anglo Irish Bank officials—Bernard Daly, Tiarnan O'Mahoney and Aoife Maguire—has focused on alleged attempts to hide offshore accounts linked to former chairman Sean FitzPatrick. The prosecution claims the trio tried to delete references to two accounts in the name of FitzPatrick's brother‑in‑law, John Peter O'Toole, from the bank's Core Banking System, and also omitted O'Toole's name from a list of non‑resident account holders for the Revenue. O'Mahoney and Maguire deny deleting six other FitzPatrick‑related accounts. Walter Tyrell, former Head of Group Internal Audit, testified that he was asked to investigate director loans and later became aware of the archiving issue, raising it with the new chairman in 2010. He noted that the bank's fraud officer, Patrick Peak, led the investigation, raising concerns about a potential conflict of interest. The case remains in legal argument, with the judge urging the jury to focus on the facts presented. Aoife Maguire pleaded not guilty.
In a 2015 court hearing, former Anglo Irish Bank executive William McAteer, aged 63, was granted legal aid for two upcoming criminal trials. The court noted that an enlarged jury panel would be required for the trial involving McAteer and three co‑accused: John Bowe (50), former head of capital markets at Anglo Irish Bank; Denis Casey (54), former chief executive of Irish Life and Permanent; and Peter Fitzpatrick (61), former director of finance at IL&P. The co‑accused are charged with conspiring to mislead investors by transferring €7.2 billion to inflate the bank's value between March and September 2008. McAteer and Bowe also face separate charges of falsifying accounts under the Theft and Fraud Act. McAteer is also set to stand trial in January 2017 for fraudulently obtaining a loan from Anglo Irish Bank to repay a personal loan with Bank of Ireland in September 2008. William McAteer was convicted.
Patrick Murphy, aged 69, a retired publican and farmer, was sentenced to ten months in prison for failing to file a €107,048 VAT return after selling four apartments in Navan for €871,532 in 2007. The unpaid VAT, plus interest, amounted to €194,000. Murphy had used the money to invest in another property in Navan for €375,000. He pleaded guilty to the non‑remittance of the VAT. The court noted his previous convictions for non‑filing of income tax in 2005 and 2009, both of which were later filed. Judge Martin Nolan described Murphy as a hard‑working, blameless family man but stressed the seriousness of tax fraud. An 18‑month sentence was considered, but the judge imposed a 10‑month term, citing Murphy's age, medical conditions and mitigating factors. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Veeran Padiachy, a 36‑year‑old former Mauritian police officer living in Cork, was arrested after a rear‑end collision when Gardaí discovered his forged Irish driving licence and a bag of cannabis in his car. Garda Shane Moriarty noted that Padiachy had called the police after the crash and waited an hour before they arrived. The Gardaí found a plastic bag containing €1,500 worth of cannabis, about 1,000 small plastic bags, and a weighing scale. Padiachy pleaded guilty to possession of cannabis for sale or supply and to possession of a false instrument under the Fraud Act, both offences committed on 11 October 2014. Judge Martin Nolan, considering the circumstances, suspended a two‑and‑a‑half‑year sentence, deciding that imprisonment would be unjust. The case was heard at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with the car seized and the drugs confiscated.
Kamel Mahiou, 45, of Rathgar, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a false driving licence, making a false statement to Social Protection and stealing €62,000 in social welfare payments. He fraudulently claimed job seekers allowance, job seeker's benefit and rent allowance between March 2009 and August 2014 using a fake French identity. Mahiou obtained a French passport and driving licence in the UK, applied for a PPS number with his Algerian passport and a tenant's letter, and used the same phone number across all applications. French authorities confirmed the documents were fake and the person did not exist. He was arrested, admitted the fraud, and expressed remorse. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two years' imprisonment, noting his illegal entry into Ireland and the seriousness of defrauding the State.
Breifne O'Brien, a 54‑year‑old former businessman, was granted an extension of time to appeal his seven‑year prison sentence. He had pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 14 counts of deception that caused a loss of about €8.5 million between 2003 and 2004, after inducing people to advance money for bogus property deals. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed the sentence on 8 October 2014. In the Court of Appeal, counsel Patrick McCullough BL applied for the extension, noting that O'Brien had been outside the 28‑day period for filing an appeal and had not been present in court. The judge, Mr Justice George Birmingham, agreed to grant legal aid on the same terms as the Circuit Court and to extend the time to file the notice of appeal, giving O'Brien two weeks if he had not yet filed it. No legal aid application had been made to the Circuit Court judge for the appeal.
Desmond Russell, 44, of Rafters Road, Drimnagh, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to demanding money with menaces from a 64‑year‑old woman on 15 June 2014. He had been directed by "more sinister parties" to collect €5,000 from the victim's home after a menacing handwritten letter was delivered earlier that day by another male who claimed to have received an envelope of money to pass on. Russell arrived later that evening, told the woman he was there to collect the money, and left when she informed him she had already contacted Gardaí. He was sentenced to a three‑year suspended sentence. The case involved 56 prior convictions, including 34 social welfare fraud offences. The judge accepted that the two men were acting under the direction of the alleged orchestrators of the scheme.
The High Court has set a three‑day extradition hearing in July for Gary Davis, a 26‑year‑old Wicklow man, who is wanted in the United States for alleged links to the Silk Road drug‑distribution website. Davis faces US charges of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, conspiracy to commit computer hacking and conspiracy to commit money laundering. He is contesting the extradition, arguing he should not be surrendered. The US claims Silk Road, shut down by the FBI in 2013, was an underground marketplace for drugs, firearms and counterfeit money, and that Davis acted as an administrator under the name 'Libertas'. He was first arrested on a warrant issued by the High Court in 2014. The court will hear the case on July 14, 15 and 16, with the possibility of an additional day if needed. Davis remains on bail pending the hearing.
During a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, the defence presented Garda Damien Rogers as a witness. Rogers recounted a 2011 search of an apartment at The Bakery, George's Hill, Balbriggan, where the deceased, Taiwo Jamani, was present. He noted that Jamani's address was Dublin Street and that the premises was a computer business named Data Links owned by Jamani. Rogers claimed he entered a Garda Pulse system entry stating that Jamani and two others should be made suspects of computer and credit card fraud, but he also said no prosecution followed and Jamani had no prior convictions. The trial concerned the 2013 murder of Jamani by 39‑year‑old Jooda Akanbi, who was charged with killing Jamani with a baseball bat on Main Street, Swords. The defence argued that the alleged fraud allegations were unrelated to the murder case. The trial continued into the afternoon. Jooda Akanbi pleaded not guilty.
In a murder trial at the Central Criminal Court, 39‑year‑old Jooda Akanbi pleaded not guilty to the killing of 45‑year‑old Taiwo Jamani on 10 October 2013 on Main Street, Swords. The prosecution closed its case after the defence presented evidence that the fatal blow was delivered in self‑defence. Akanbi testified that he had been threatened by Jamani, who had allegedly tried to coerce him into fraud and had threatened to involve the Gardaí. Akanbi claimed he struck Jamani with a baseball bat after being punched and that the death was caused by the accused's actions. The judge struck the second count of serious harm from the issue paper, stating the death was caused by the accused's own actions. No conviction or sentencing was reported in the article.
Aaron Weinrib, 37, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to eight theft and fraud charges for selling 20 bogus holiday packages between June and December 2010. He claimed to be an agent for "Top Flight" and sold packages to New York, Las Vegas and Cape Town, collecting €27,600. Gardaí received complaints in November 2010 from two men who paid €3,200 and €550 for non‑existent stays; both received forged Top Flight documents. Weinrib admitted the holidays were never booked, that he intended to refund victims, and that he had never worked for Top Flight. He has raised €9,900 and requested more time to pay compensation. The judge adjourned the case to 22 July, noting he will use half his €400 weekly wage to repay victims. The case remains at the pleading stage, with no custodial sentence imposed yet.
Ion Matei, aged 37, was jailed for his role in a well‑organised credit‑card fraud that spent nearly €20,000 in high‑street shops in 2009. He and three accomplices used a stolen American Express company card belonging to Oracle employee Phillip Ryan to buy clothes, perfumes and handbags at Brown Thomas, Arnotts, Next and Debenhams. The fraud began after Ryan received a new card in October 2009, which he never used. Garda Wayne Donnelly compiled CCTV footage showing four people using the card, including Matei. Matei was arrested in February 2010, denied knowledge of the theft but admitted using the card to buy goods. He pleaded guilty to possession of a stolen credit card and 19 theft charges totalling €7,377, plus possession of a stolen Ulster Bank card and theft of €1,350 in 2014. Judge Desmond Hogan sentenced him to four years, suspending two on the condition of keeping the peace for four years. Ion Matei was convicted.
The High Court ordered the surrender of Patrick Lee, 41, of Newtown, Co. Kildare, who is wanted by U.S. authorities on 51 charges including 29 counts of wire fraud, six counts of unlawful monetary transaction and 16 counts of aggravated identity theft. Lee is alleged to have participated in a scheme that defrauded U.S. banks and mortgage lenders by purchasing properties in Boston between 2006 and 2007, using forged appraisals and "straw buyers" to obtain mortgages that were never repaid. He claims the allegations are false and denies wrongdoing. The judge remanded Lee on continuing bail until a detailed judgment is delivered. Counsel for Lee argued that many of the alleged offences occurred outside the U.S. and should not be subject to extradition under Irish law, and that he would face cruel treatment if surrendered. The case remains pending in the High Court.
The High Court struck out repossession proceedings brought by subprime lender Home Funding Corporation Ltd against John and Sheila Nolan. Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy dismissed the application for want of prosecution, citing inordinate and inexcusable delay between 2004 and 2014. The lender sought €1.4m on a 1997 loan, alleging the couple stopped repayments in 2000. The Nolans argued the delay prejudiced them and that Home Funding lacked candour regarding the true cause, which they linked to founder Ian Leaf. Mr Leaf, now Ian Andrews, was convicted of 13 counts of fraudulent trading, jailed for 10 years, and released in 2008. He also faced confiscation orders for fraud calculated at Stg£99.8m. Home Funding denied Mr Leaf's incarceration was relevant, attributing the delay to an oversight and failed negotiations. The judge rejected the company's argument that the delay period began in 2006, finding the nine-year gap from 2004 to 2014 sufficient to strike out the claim. She also struck out the Nolans' counter-claim. Costs were awarded to the Nolans, with a stay placed on the order pending any appeal. The ruling concluded the matter by dismissing the repossession application.
In a High Court hearing on 13 February 2015, the Irish Bank Resolution Corporation (IBRC) obtained a summary judgment for €16.2 million against Breifne O'Brien, a jailed businessman serving a seven‑year sentence for running a ponzi scheme. O'Brien, who represented himself, argued that he had no time to prepare and that a 2009 freezing order had prevented him from repaying loans. The judge, Mr Justice Kearns, rejected these defenses, stating they were "bald assertions" and that the freezing order did not impede repayment obligations. IBRC's claim also targeted O'Brien's father, Leo O'Brien, for unpaid loans from 2002, 2004, and 2006, which were used to purchase investment properties. The judgment was granted against O'Brien, while the claim against Leo O'Brien was adjourned to a later date. O'Brien had previously pleaded guilty to 14 counts of deception and theft involving about €8.5 million between 2003 and 2008.
Michael Mongan, 38, of Whiteclare Avenue, Baldoyle, Dublin 13, was arrested after he walked into a Garda station to complain that his fraudulent Social Welfare claim had been suspended. He had used a false identity, claiming to be Robert Anthony Gavin, to obtain €2,905 in welfare payments between 4 December 2009 and 10 March 2010 while also claiming benefits under his own name. Mongan pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to using a false identity to steal almost €3,000 from the State over a three‑month period. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two years in prison but suspended the sentence in full on the condition that he keeps the peace for two years. The judge cited Mongan's guilty plea, cooperation with Gardaí and the short duration of the false claim as reasons for the suspension. Mongan has not yet repaid the money to the State and has four previous convictions, including shoplifting and deception.
A new judge will be assigned to hear the extradition case of Gary Davis, a 26‑year‑old Wicklow man, who is wanted in the United States to face charges of conspiracy to distribute narcotics, conspiracy to commit computer hacking and conspiracy to commit money laundering. Davis is alleged to have acted as an administrator on the underground website Silkroad, using the name "Libertas," a site described by U.S. authorities as a "sprawling black market bazaar" where drugs, firearms and counterfeit money were sold. He was first arrested on a warrant issued by the High Court in January and is currently on bail. Counsel for the Attorney General, Ronan Kennedy BL, asked the High Court whether it could assign a new judge to the case, citing little progress.
David Church, a 39‑year‑old father of four from Parnell Street, Dublin, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment for fraudulently claiming €478,052 in Jobseekers' Allowance and Rent Allowance over a 12‑year period. He used six false identities, obtained by purchasing birth certificates in the UK, to file welfare claims in Dublin between 2002 and 2013. The fraud was uncovered when facial‑recognition software matched the same photograph on multiple welfare identities. Church pleaded guilty to 13 sample counts at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, admitting he had used the money for drinking, gambling and loans, while also providing for his family. The court noted his lack of prior convictions and his cooperation with Gardaí, and Judge Martin Nolan highlighted his potential for rehabilitation. The case was brought by the Department of Social Protection and the Gardaí, who detected the scam through image‑matching and CCTV evidence.
David Church, a 39‑year‑old father of four from Dublin, pleaded guilty to 13 counts that represented 199 charges of fraudulently claiming Jobseekers' Allowance and Rent Allowance between September 2002 and July 2013. He used six false identities, created in the UK by purchasing birth certificates, to claim a total of €478,052 from the State, an average of about €40,000 a year. The fraud was uncovered when facial‑recognition software matched the same photograph on multiple welfare identities. Church admitted to using the names Adam Cole, Paul Anthony O'Brien, Derek O'Brien and Darren O'Brien, and later confessed to five additional names. He had no prior convictions and was arrested in July 2013 after Gardaí observed him claiming benefits under false names at post offices. The court will sentence him tomorrow, with a remand in custody.
At the appeal stage, Kevin Tucker (52), a former accountant, was found to have admitted failing to make tax returns between 2002 and 2011. The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Martin Nolan imposed a suspended one-year sentence. The judge noted that Tucker had a history of being unsympathetic to tax offenders, having previously imposed a six-year sentence on another individual for tax fraud. However, in this case, the judge acknowledged that Tucker's actions coincided with the rearing and eventual death of one of his children, who had severe and complex health issues. Tucker has repaid a large portion of the outstanding tax and currently owes €81,650. He pleaded guilty and stated that he had intended to address the matter but had put it off. His defence counsel highlighted that Tucker no longer works as an accountant and is now employed as a business consultant. The judge stated that it would be unjust to impose a custodial sentence in this case, noting that Tucker was not charged with tax evasion but with failing to make returns.
Edward McDonagh, a 35‑year‑old father of six from Lucan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 15 charges of theft of property from the Health Service Executive and Department of Social Welfare for fraudulently claiming over €44,000 between August 2009 and April 2011. He used the false names Matthew Patterson and John Paul Ward to claim €22,193.80 and €21,789.44 respectively, while also legitimately claiming a disability allowance. The court, after hearing evidence and considering his limited repayment efforts, sentenced him to two and a half years in prison but substituted 240 hours of community service. McDonagh admitted the fraud, stated he had been instructed by an unnamed person, and claimed he had been paying back the money through reductions in his welfare payments, though full reimbursement would take decades. He also disclosed past substance misuse and depression, noting he had ceased drinking and drug use.
Aaron Dunne, aged 21, of Grangeview Road, Clondalkin, Dublin, has been sentenced to three and a half years imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court following convictions for document fraud and criminal damage. Dunne pleaded guilty to ten counts of possessing and using a forged learner permit licence between June and November 2012, having arranged for another person to sit his theory test and then altering the resulting licence with his own photograph. When gardaí seized the false document, Dunne reported it lost and obtained a replacement through a local garda station without the seizure being checked on the database. He was sentenced to two and a half years for the fraud offences. Dunne also pleaded guilty to criminal damage and producing a baseball bat during an incident at a restaurant near Rathcoole in January 2013, receiving an additional consecutive sentence of two and a half years with eighteen months suspended. Judge Mary Ellen Ring noted the extended period of false document use posed a danger to the public.
The State has requested an enlarged jury panel for the trial of former Anglo Irish Bank executive William McAteer, aged 63, and three co‑accused. The men are charged with conspiring to mislead investors about the bank's deposit books by transferring €7.2 billion to inflate the bank's value between March and September 2008. McAteer, John Bowe (50), Denis Casey (54) and Peter Fitzpatrick (61) also face separate charges of falsifying accounts under section 10 of the Theft and Fraud Act. The case was listed for mention before Judge Mary Ellen Ring on 24 November 2014 to monitor disclosure progress. Counsel for the prosecution, Diana Stuart BL, noted that the first stage of disclosure was almost complete and requested a new mention date to allow continued monitoring. The prosecution also applied for an enlarged jury panel, and the defence teams agreed with the submission.
Aman Essoin, 43, a father of two, was sentenced to three years in prison for computer fraud and stealing over €102,800 from Google. He transferred the money to bank accounts in France and South Africa between 24 October 2011 and 27 March 2012. Essoin claimed he acted under pressure from a man called "Serge", who allegedly had personal information on him and his family. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 24 October 2011 and 30 January 2012. Judge Mary Ellen Ring suspended the last 18 months of the sentence after back‑dating it to December of the previous year. Essoin had no prior convictions, had worked at Arvanto Finance Services for six years, and was on remand in custody since his arrest in December 2013. The judge noted his exemplary conduct in prison and a low risk of re‑offending, but also highlighted the significant breach of trust and financial loss to his employer.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Noel Ellis, aged 74, pleaded not guilty to 48 counts of social welfare fraud for claiming over €46,000 in pension payments between June 2006 and July 2010. The State alleged he was using his dead brother James Ellis's identity, while Ellis insisted he was James. When asked if he was Noel Ellis, he answered "No." After one day of evidence, the prosecution entered a nolle prosequi on all counts, effectively dismissing the indictment. Patrick Ellis, a brother of the accused, testified about family dynamics, noting that Noel and James rarely attended family events and that Noel did not attend James's funeral in London in 1997. Garda David Redmond reported that a complaint in February 2010 led to Noel's arrest and a search of his home, where a birth certificate for Noel and documents in James's name were seized.
Edward McDonagh, a 35‑year‑old father of six from Lucan, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 15 charges of theft of property from the Health Service Executive and the Department of Social Welfare for the period August 2008 to April 2011. He used the false names Matthew Patterson and John Paul Ward to claim €22,193.80 and €21,789.44 respectively, while also claiming legitimate disability allowance. McDonagh admitted to using the same photograph on identification cards and to having been instructed by an unnamed person on how to obtain birth certificates and PPS numbers. He also confessed to excessive drinking, cocaine use and a heart attack at a young age. Judge Mary Ellen Ring adjourned sentencing to December, taking into account his attempts to repay the fraudulently claimed money and ordering a Probation Service report to assess suitability for community service. The case remains pending, with McDonagh remanded on bail awaiting sentencing.
The High Court will decide on 4 November whether to extradite Patrick Lee, 41, of Newtown, Co. Kildare, to the United States to face 51 charges including 29 counts of wire fraud, six counts of unlawful monetary transaction and 16 counts of aggravated identity theft. Lee denies all allegations and claims the accusations are false. The alleged scheme involved purchasing properties in Boston between 2006 and 2007, using "straw buyers" to obtain mortgages that were never repaid. Lee is accused of forging appraisals and receiving about €1 million for his role. He is currently remanded on continuing bail. The court heard that Lee had bought pre‑paid flight tickets to Ireland in 2006 and that he fears cruel treatment if surrendered. He also cited health concerns and the potential impact on his family if extradited. The judge will issue a decision on 4 November.
Patrick Lee, 41, of Newtown, County Kildare, is wanted by U.S. authorities for 51 offences including 29 counts of wire fraud, 6 of unlawful monetary transaction and 16 of aggravated identity theft. He allegedly participated in a scheme that defrauded U.S. banks and mortgage lenders by purchasing properties in Boston between 2006 and 2007, converting them into apartments, and using "straw buyers" to draw down mortgages that were never repaid. Lee is accused of forging appraisals and receiving about €1 million for his role. He denies all allegations. The case is adjourned to 7 October, when a judgment date will be set. Lee remains on continuing bail. The maximum penalty for the offences is 42 years' imprisonment. The proceedings are ongoing and no verdict has yet been reached.
In 2010, a jury found freelance photographer Niall Williamson, aged 53, guilty of 85 tax‑offence charges covering 1998‑2004. He was originally sentenced in April 2012 to 240 hours of community service by Judge Olive Buttimer, who deemed imprisonment unnecessary and wanted him to teach photography. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient. On 24 July 2014 the Criminal Court of the Appeal, presided over by Mr Justice Adrian Hardiman, sentenced Williamson to three‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, with 21 months suspended, after learning he still owed €272,936 in unpaid taxes and interest. The appeal court cited the lack of mitigating factors, the systematic nature of the fraud, and Williamson's failure to cooperate as reasons for the harsher custodial term. The new sentence replaced the original community‑service order.
James Anthony Tighe, 64, of Pettiswood, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, is alleged to have been involved in a £100 million money‑laundering conspiracy. British authorities seek his extradition to face charges of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue, one charge of cheating the public revenue, and one charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering covering 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2005. He was arrested in July 2012 under a European Arrest Warrant issued in September 2011. The High Court has heard that construction companies under Tighe's control were allegedly used to systematically defraud Her Majesty's Revenue. Judge John Edwards ruled that Tighe would be surrendered to the UK for all offences covered by the warrant, but he would remain on bail pending the outcome of an appeal. If the appeal fails, Tighe will return to the High Court; if the Supreme Court upholds the appeal, the matter will end.
James Anthony Tighe, aged 64, is sought by British authorities for extradition to face charges of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue, one charge of cheating the public revenue, and conspiracy to commit money laundering between 1 January 1997 and 31 December 2005. The alleged offences involve a £100 million money‑laundering conspiracy linked to construction companies under Tighe's control, which were used to defraud the UK public revenue. The High Court will order his extradition on 28 May, after a previous ruling was overturned by the Supreme Court in December 2010 due to inadequacies in the European Arrest Warrant. Tighe was arrested in July 2012 under a warrant issued in September 2011. He remains remanded on continuing bail until the extradition order is made. The case highlights the UK's pursuit of alleged large‑scale fraud against public revenue.
In Swords District Court, Henry Afeni (49) admitted to making a gain or causing loss by deception at TK Max in The Pavilions Shopping Centre in Swords on December 8th, 2013. He was sentenced to 100 hours of community service in lieu of a five-month prison sentence. Raymond O'Hara (47) pleaded guilty to burglary at Portmarnock Hotel on December 11th, 2012, and his case was adjourned to June 23rd for the facts to be heard and sentencing. Declan Fitzsimons (34) admitted to using threatening and abusive behaviour at Cedar Grove in Ridgewood, Swords on January 1st. Judge Dermot Dempsey imposed a conviction and fined him €500, noting that Fitzsimons had the opportunity since February to make a charitable donation. Debra Maguire (44) was found guilty of handling stolen goods worth €363.55 at The Pavilions Shopping Centre in Swords on November 17th, 2013, and was sentenced to 100 hours of community service in lieu of a five-month prison sentence. All cases were at the sentence stage.
Patrick Lee, 41, a Kildare resident, faces extradition to the United States for 51 alleged offences, including 29 counts of wire fraud, 6 of unlawful monetary transaction and 16 of aggravated identity theft. The High Court heard that Lee allegedly participated in a scheme that defrauded U.S. banks and mortgage lenders by purchasing properties in Boston between 2006 and 2007, converting them into apartments, and using forged appraisals to secure loans. Lee claims the allegations are false and denies any wrongdoing. He argues that some offences occurred while he was in Ireland and that Irish law should prevent extradition. The court considered evidence that 8 of the 51 alleged offences took place outside the U.S., and that 30 offences post‑dated the Criminal Justice Act 2006, potentially qualifying them as Irish offences. Lee also raised concerns about potential mistreatment and health care in U.S. prisons.
Patrick Lee, 41, of Newtown, Co Kildare, faces extradition to the United States on 51 charges, including 29 counts of wire fraud, six counts of unlawful monetary transaction and 16 counts of aggravated identity theft. He is accused of participating in a scheme that defrauded U.S. banks and mortgage lenders by securing loans for properties that were never repaid. The alleged scheme involved real‑estate lawyers, "straw buyers" and forged appraisals, with Lee allegedly receiving about €1 million for his role. U.S. authorities seek a maximum sentence of 42 years. Lee denies the allegations. Cathleen Noctor BL presented documents and affidavits to the High Court, while Lee's barrister, Kieran Kelly BL, will submit written arguments. The case is set for a hearing before Mr Justice John Edwards on Thursday, with Lee's legal team raising concerns about potential cruel treatment and the reliability of U.S. assurances regarding extradition.
At Balbriggan District Court, Peter Flood (32) pleaded guilty to assault causing harm after allegedly headbutting his former partner, breaking her nose. Judge Dermot Dempsey sentenced Flood to 240 hours of community service work in lieu of a six-month prison term, bound him to the peace for two years, and ordered him to continue anger management and drug treatment. In a separate matter, David El Masri (32) pleaded guilty to custody of equipment for making copies and ten charges of copying movies for sale. Judge Dempsey struck out the case after El Masri paid €500 to Balbriggan St Vincent de Paul and ordered the destruction of counterfeit material. Neil O'Brion (27) pleaded guilty to using threatening and abusive behaviour towards gardai. His case was struck out following a €500 donation to AWARE charity. Finally, Bridget McDonagh (27), who is alleged to have committed social welfare fraud by concealing allowances, was remanded on continuing bail. The judge granted the State eight additional weeks to complete the book of evidence, with McDonagh scheduled to reappear on May 8th.
James Anthony Tighe, 64, of Pettiswood, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, is wanted by British authorities for alleged involvement in a £100 million money‑laundering conspiracy. He faces charges of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue, one charge of cheating the public revenue, and one charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering covering the period 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2005. Tighe was arrested in July 2012 under a European Arrest Warrant issued in September 2011. The High Court had previously ruled that he could be surrendered to the UK, but the Supreme Court overturned that decision in December 2010, citing an inadequate description of the alleged offence and conflicting charge classifications. Mr Justice John Edwards adjourned the extradition judgement for three weeks, remanding Tighe on continuing bail until 18 March, and will list the case again if the judgement is ready.
Swords District Court heard five matters. Henry Afeni (49) pleaded guilty to making a gain or causing loss by deception at TK Max in Swords. Judge Patrick Clyne suspended a five-month sentence for two years and proposed 100 hours of community service, adjourning the case until April 28 for a Probation Report. Debra Maguire (44) pleaded not guilty to handling stolen goods but was found guilty; the court ordered a Probation & Welfare report and adjourned sentencing until April 28. Robert Trnovec (38) pleaded guilty to drink driving and received a two-year disqualification and a €250 fine. Anne-Marie McGill (50) pleaded guilty to theft of a cardigan; the judge applied the Probation Act. Declan Fitzsimons (34) pleaded guilty to using threatening and abusive behaviour; the judge proposed a €500 charitable donation to avoid a conviction, with a default fine of €500, and set a deadline of April 28.
Patrick Lee, 41, of Newtown, County Kildare, is wanted by U.S. authorities for 51 offences including wire fraud, unlawful monetary transaction and aggravated identity theft. He allegedly participated in a scheme that defrauded U.S. banks and mortgage lenders by purchasing properties in Boston, converting them into apartments, and using "straw buyers" to secure mortgages that were never repaid. Lee is accused of forging appraisals and receiving about €1 million for his role. The U.S. seeks his extradition for a maximum sentence of 42 years. Lee denies all allegations and claims he would face cruel and inhumane treatment if surrendered, citing health concerns and alleged mistreatment at Shannon Airport. The High Court will consider the extradition request on 12 March, with counsel for both sides presenting evidence. The case remains pending before Mr Justice John Edwards.
Patrick Lee, 51, is wanted for extradition to the United States on 51 alleged offences, including 29 counts of wire fraud, 6 counts of unlawful monetary transaction and 16 counts of aggravated identity theft. He is accused of participating in a scheme that defrauded US banks and mortgage lenders by purchasing properties in Boston between 2006 and 2007, converting them into apartments, and using "straw buyers" to obtain mortgages that were never repaid. Lee allegedly forged appraisals, was not a licensed appraiser, and received about €1 million for his role. The scheme involved real‑estate lawyers and the use of forged documents to secure loans, resulting in foreclosures and significant losses for lenders. Lee denies all allegations, claims he was arrested in 2012, and argues that extradition would expose him to cruel treatment and violate his constitutional rights. The case is before Mr Justice John Edwards.
James Anthony Tighe, 64, of Pettiswood, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath, faces a High Court challenge to his extradition to the United Kingdom. He is wanted by British authorities for alleged involvement in a £100 million money‑laundering conspiracy linked to large‑scale fraud against UK public revenue. The UK seeks his surrender to face charges of conspiracy to cheat the public revenue, one charge of cheating the public revenue, and one charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering covering 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2005. Tighe was arrested in July 2012 under a European Arrest Warrant issued in September 2011. A previous High Court ruling allowing his surrender was overturned by the Supreme Court in December 2010 due to inadequacies in the warrant's description of the alleged offence. The High Court adjourned the case for three weeks, with Mr Justice John Edwards noting he had two cases to consider before delivering a judgment.
The Commercial Court has heard pre-trial proceedings brought by National Asset Loan Management Limited, a NAMA subsidiary, against businessman David Cullen, his wife Mary, Seafield Hotel Ltd, Paramount Hotel Ltd, solicitor Fintan Wallis, and Stephen Cullen. The applicants allege that David C unlawfully transferred or charged over 40 properties to his wife in 2009 and 2010 to place assets beyond the reach of creditors, including Bank of Ireland loans later assumed by NAMA. It is further alleged that Cullen leased the Turk's Head Bar and Paramount Hotel to companies in breach of security covenants. Mr Fintan Wallis is accused of unlawfully procuring the registration of land transfers to Mrs Cullen, while Stephen Cullen is alleged to have acquired a leasehold interest in Seafield Hotel Ltd as its beneficial owner. All defendants deny these claims. NAMA previously secured a €29 million High Court judgment against David Cullen for unpaid loans. Defence counsel Martin Hayden SC opposed fast-tracking the case, citing alleged culpable delay by NAMA. However, Mr Justice Peter Kelly rejected this argument, noting that NAMA required time to assimilate evidence from Mary Cullen's cross-examination and that a suspicion of fraud had been articulated. The judge transferred the litigation to the Commercial Court due to the number of properties involved and Cullen's status as a €29 million judgment debtor. The matter remains at the charge or pre-trial stage.
Ruairi O Ceallaigh, aged 42, pleaded guilty to stealing nearly €3m from his family‑run law firm, Sean O Ceallaigh & Company, in Dublin. He was arrested by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and charged with seven offences under the Theft and Fraud Act. The charges cover a four‑year period of misappropriation, including €1,551,366 between September 2008 and November 2008, and additional sums of €134,831, €151,078, €250,000, €509,646, €75,000 and €144,644 from client accounts. The Director of Public Prosecutions directed a trial on indictment, so the case will be heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. O Ceallaigh appeared at Dublin District Court, accepted the signed plea, and was remanded on continuing bail with his father acting as surety. He will face sentencing at the Circuit Court on 7 February. The court noted that a book of evidence was not required for the signed plea. The case remains at the indictment stage.
A former clerk at Anglo Irish Bank, Gordon O'Brien, 42, is set to stand trial for alleged computer fraud amounting to just over €200,000. He was arrested in Dublin and charged with nine counts of unlawful use of a computer under Section 9 of the Theft and Fraud Act. The alleged offences occurred while he was operating a computer at the bank's Limerick branch between September 2010 and June 2011. O'Brien has not responded to the charges. He is currently working in the UK but maintains a Limerick address and returns there weekly. The court granted bail, requiring him to report to Roxboro Garda station each Saturday. He has no prior convictions and has cooperated with investigators. The case will be heard at Circuit Court level, with a 10‑week remand to allow completion of the evidence book. He will appear again on 10 February for further proceedings.
Three former senior officials from two financial services institutions are to stand trial for conspiring to mislead Anglo Irish Bank investors about €7.2 billion transactions between March and September 2008. The defendants are John Bowe (50), former head of capital markets at Anglo Irish Bank; Denis Casey (54), former chief executive of Irish Life and Permanent; and Peter Fitzpatrick (61), former director of finance at Irish Life and Permanent. They are accused of transferring €7.2 billion to Anglo Irish Bank to create a false impression that the bank had larger deposits, thereby inducing investors to make decisions on that premise. Bowe also faces an additional charge of falsifying accounts on 3 December 2008 under the Theft and Fraud Act. The men were arrested, charged, and remanded on bail with conditions, and are scheduled to appear again on 12 March for trial. The case is unrelated to the trial of former Anglo executives set for January 2014.
Ruairi O Ceallaigh, a 42‑year‑old former solicitor, was arrested by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation and charged with seven offences under the Theft and Fraud Act. He is accused of misappropriating about €2.8 million from client accounts at his family‑run firm, Sean O Ceallaigh & Company, over a four‑year period. The alleged thefts include €1,551,366 from a named estate between September 2008 and November 2008, and six other sums ranging from €134,831 to €509,646 from client accounts between 2006 and 2010. O Ceallaigh was brought to Bridewell Garda station, then appeared before Judge Patricia Ryan at Dublin District Court, where he was remanded on bail of €200 with his father, Sean O Ceallaigh, acting as surety for €5,000. He is to face trial on indictment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with no plea indicated yet. The case will proceed before a judge and jury.
Bernard Daly, 65, former Anglo Irish Bank executive, appeared at Dublin District Court after arrest by the fraud squad. He was charged with four offences under the Taxes Consolidations Act 1997, alleged to have concealed a named account, conspired to obstruct a Revenue officer, and produced incorrect documentation between March and November 2003. Daly pleaded not guilty to each charge. He was remanded on bail with conditions: a €1,000 bond, residence at his current address, 48‑hour notice before traveling outside Ireland or the UK, and weekly sign‑in at Santry Garda station unless abroad. The case will proceed to trial on indictment at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, with a 12‑week adjournment to prepare the book of evidence. His next hearing is scheduled for February 6, when he and a co‑accused will receive the evidence book and return for trial. The judge ordered no prejudicial reporting.
A 54‑year‑old former head of treasury at Anglo Irish Bank, Tiernan O'Mahoney, is to stand trial on indictment in Dublin District Court for four charges under the Taxes Consolidation Act 1997. The offences relate to the period from 25 March 2003 to 17 November 2003 and include allegations that he knowingly concealed a bank account, conspired to obstruct a Revenue officer, concealed an account from inspection, and produced incorrect documents. O'Mahoney made no reply to the charges after being cautioned and was given a true copy of the indictment. He was arrested by the Garda Fraud Squad at Bridewell Garda station. Bail was granted on a €100 bond with conditions requiring him to remain at his home in Wicklow, sign on Fridays at Bray Garda station, and give 48‑hour notice of any address change or travel outside Ireland or the UK.
A garda, Damien Dempsey, who admitted using a missing motor tax disc from his station on his own car, had theft and fraud charges dismissed by a judge. However, he was fined €500 for not having his car taxed. Dempsey, who had previously been found guilty of stealing the tax disc, fraudulently using it, and not having motor insurance, had his remaining charges dismissed. The judge ruled there was no evidence of intent to permanently deprive someone of the disc or a demand for an insurance certificate. Dempsey, who has over 20 years of service, admitted not having his car taxed but pleaded not guilty to the other charges. He explained that he took the disc when his car's tax ran out and faced financial difficulties, including a broken marriage and monthly expenses of €2,500. He stated he never intended the act to be theft and was struggling with financial stress and anxiety.