A 17‑year‑old, Ogaga Ogheneyoma, was fined €500 and ordered to be of good behaviour in lieu of a 12‑month sentence for allowing his AIB bank account to hold €31,842 of laundered money in an invoice redirect fraud. He pleaded guilty on the day of his trial at Dublin Circuit Court on 19 November 2018. Ogheneyoma, now 22, is a fourth‑year accounting and finance student at TU Dublin, lives with his parents in Lucan, and has worked part‑time throughout college. The court noted he had no previous convictions, no evidence of involvement in the fraud, and had a pro‑social life since the offence. Judge Orla Crowe invoked Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006, imposed the fine, and deferred the sentence, ordering him to pay the fine before a mention in May 2024, after which he will be discharged.
During the trial of Michael Lynn, a former legal executive, Ms. Liz Doyle, was cross‑examined about her role in the firm and a loan of €80,000 she claimed to have given to Lynn in January 2007. Doyle admitted she was an authorised signatory on cheques and that she had forwarded emails to solicitor Fiona McAleenan. She acknowledged that the firm had a practice of signing each other's names on documents, but denied that she had ever signed a letter without permission. Doyle also said she had no knowledge of any fraud and that she was very ill at the time of the alleged civil case involving Irish Life and Permanent. The prosecution argued that Lynn had obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties, but the trial continues before Judge Nolan and the jury. Michael Lynn pleaded not guilty.
Dana Maria Popovici, 35, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for using false Italian identification and a false Romanian driving licence to open eight bank accounts that processed €168,148 between 2016 and 2019. The accounts were held at Ulster Bank, Allied Irish Bank and KBC. Gardaí seized equipment used to produce fake documents and discovered that Popovici had been arrested in Finland in November 2018 with a member of an organised crime gang. She pleaded guilty to four charges of using false identification to open bank accounts. The prosecution noted that the fraud involved selling undelivered machinery or vehicles online and a Revenue‑related scam that stole almost €10,000 from three Irish victims. Judge Orla Crowe back‑dated the sentence to June, when Popovici was first remanded, and described the case as an international online fraud of great complexity. The sentence was imposed after Popovici's guilty plea and the judge's assessment of her poor use of her talents.
Paul Olunaike, a 34‑year‑old Dublin professional dancer and father of four, pleaded guilty to possessing €13,738 as proceeds of crime in his bank account on 25 August 2020. The court heard that he had allowed his Ulster Bank account to be used for an invoice‑redirect fraud, transferring €4,000 of the laundered money to his mother. Judge Orla Crowe set a headline sentence of two years but adjourned finalisation to 7 March to allow probation services to assess his suitability for community service. If suitable, Olunaike will be ordered to carry out 240 hours of community service instead of an 18‑month custodial sentence. He used the funds to buy a €609 juicer, a €404.99 food processor and an oil extractor machine. The judge noted the offence was an isolated incident, that Olunaike had contributed €2,000 to the prosecution's losses, and that he had not attracted further Garda attention since the incident.
A 23‑year‑old Dublin man, Josh Reidy, was found guilty of two counts of possessing over €19,000 as proceeds of crime. The money was moved through a smishing scheme, where victims received text messages with fake bank links that redirected their funds to Reidy's accounts. Bank of Ireland recovered all but €900 of the first €19,421 withdrawal and €18,973 of a second €19,877 withdrawal, leaving victims with losses of €900 and €904 respectively. Gardaí traced the transactions to Reidy, who was living on Sundrive Road and later at Landsdowne Gate, Drimnagh. Reidy admitted he had a €3,000 drug debt and had supplied his passport and mobile details to the fraudsters. He claimed he was threatened and physically assaulted by the group, and that his mother was also threatened. The court noted Reidy's good work history and his intention to resume employment in January after paying the €900 owed.
Linda Finnegan, aged 51, of Stamullen, was found guilty of fraud under the Companies Act for withdrawing €35,601 from her family's Waldorf Barbers, a business she owned 25 % of. The fraud occurred in March 2019, shortly after her father Liam Finnegan's death from cancer. The court heard that Liam had owned 75 % of the company and had bequeathed that share to two employees, while Linda had a 25 % share. She had initially denied theft charges but pleaded guilty to a fourth count of fraud. The court set a headline sentence of two and a half years, reduced to one year and nine months, fully suspended. The judgment noted her remorse, cooperation with Gardaí, and that the company was liquidated as a result of the fraud. No prior convictions were recorded.
Jennifer Dunne, 38, of Richmond, Blackrock, Co Dublin, was discharged from proceedings at the Special Criminal Court after the State dropped all nine charges against her. The Director of Public Prosecutions entered a nolle prosequi application, citing the receipt of certain documents, which resulted in the withdrawal of six money-laundering counts and three counts of failing to furnish tax returns. Dunne had been accused of money-laundering offences relating to AIB accounts between 2018 and 2019, and failing to deliver capital acquisitions tax returns between October 2018 and October 2020. Following the order, she was free to leave the court. This development occurred five days after her partner, Nathan Kinsella, 44, also of Richmond, Blackrock, pleaded guilty to three similar counts of failing to furnish tax returns for the same period. Kinsella's case was adjourned to January 22 for sentencing, while six money-laundering charges against him were not pursued by the State. Kinsella was previously jailed by the Special Criminal Court ten years ago after pleading guilty to membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, otherwise Óglaigh na hÉireann, otherwise the Irish Republican Army on September 13, 2012, for which he was sentenced to two years.
A trial date of 2 July 2025 has been set for former hurling star DJ Carey, who is accused of fraudulently claiming he needed money for cancer treatment and inducing people to pay him. The 52‑year‑old, from The Drive, Newtown, Maynooth, appeared briefly at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where the judge, Orla Crowe, set the trial to last three to four weeks. Carey denies all 19 counts of dishonestly inducing payments and two additional charges of using a false instrument. He also faces a request for a variation of bail conditions to allow him to sign at a different Garda station closer to his new address. The State's counsel, Simon Matthews, did not object to the bail variation. The case is set to proceed in 2025, with no further developments reported in the article.
Ex-IRA man Nathan Kinsella has pleaded guilty to three counts of failing to furnish tax returns, as well as two additional counts of the same offence on or before October 31, 2019, and October 31, 2020. Kinsella, who was previously jailed for two years in 2012 for membership of an unlawful organisation styling itself the Irish Republican Army, was sentenced to two years for that offence. The matter was adjourned to January 22, 2024, for sentencing. Kinsella was jailed by the same court 10 years ago after a garda investigation into paramilitary activity at the funeral of Dissident Republican Alan Ryan. Jennifer Dunne, Kinsella's partner, is charged with the same tax and money laundering offences. Paul Greene SC, counsel for Ms Dunne, stated that his client has three documents of interest that involve returns to the Revenue, and these are available in hard copy at the accused's home. He said the documents will be furnished to the prosecution before the weekend, and Ms Dunne's case was adjourned to next Monday. Kinsella and Ms Dunne were previously charged with money laundering offences under Section 7 of Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act, 2010. The couple were charged with converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using property, namely funds lodged to an AIB account on dates between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2019, within the State, knowing or believing or being reckless as to whether the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct. Dominic McGinn SC, for the State, said that the State would now be entering a nolle prosequi on these charges in relation to Kinsella.
Patrick Challoner, a former AIB bank manager aged 54, was found by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to have carried out a €2.7 million fraud over 16 years by creating bogus loan and investment schemes. He did not personally profit from the scheme, which involved taking money from customers who believed they were authorising investment accounts that were never established, and then using those funds to create fake loans for other customers. The scheme included 44 fictitious loans, 22 customers whose funds were misappropriated, and €900,000 given to 33 customers without paperwork. The bank suffered a total loss of €3.2 million, including reimbursements and audit costs. Challoner pleaded guilty to five theft charges and one deception charge, and was remanded on continuing bail pending sentencing on 27 November. He has since left the bank and is now working as a pizza delivery person.
Nathan Kinsella (44) and his partner Jennifer Dunne (38) of Richmond, Blackrock, Co Dublin, are due to go to trial at the Special Criminal Court over alleged money laundering offences. They have been re‑charged with the six original money‑laundering offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. In addition, they face three new counts under the Finance Act 2008 for failing to file tax returns. The charges relate to converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using property—specifically funds deposited into an AIB account between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2019—while knowing or recklessly believing the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct. They are also charged with failing to submit full and true capital acquisitions tax returns for the periods ending 31 October 2018, 31 October 2019 and 31 October 2020, with addresses at Tasaggart House, Alpine Heights and Richmond, Newtownpark respectively.
Monday Augustine, 52, a devoted member of the Christ Life Church in Dublin, pleaded guilty to using false documents to obtain asylum and later Irish citizenship. He originally arrived in Ireland in 2002 as a Nigerian, claiming to be a Liberian named John Augustine Sawyeer, and used a falsified Liberian birth certificate to marry an Irish citizen in 2004, apply for citizenship in 2007, and obtain a passport in 2009. After a religious experience in 2018, he wrote to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Services in October 2019 confessing the fraud and revealing his true name, Monday Augustine. The court, noting his long community involvement and low risk of reoffending, ordered him to complete 240 hours of community service within two years in lieu of an 18‑month prison term. He has no prior convictions and has worked steadily in Ireland for over 20 years, earning €482 per week after tax.
Francis Fennell, Christopher Mellon, Alan Fagan, Paul Fagan, and Aaron King were sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for their roles in an international cocaine smuggling ring. All five defendants pleaded guilty to various charges, including conspiracy to commit serious offences, money laundering, and conspiracy to bring proceeds of criminal conduct into the state between 2012 and 2016. Judge Pauline Codd described the enterprise as a "get rich quick scheme" exploiting price disparities in Australia and New Zealand. Fennell, identified as the mastermind, received a ten-year sentence with the final two years suspended on strict conditions. Mellon, a first-time offender, had his three-and-a-half-year sentence suspended in full and was ordered to pay €10,000 to the Anna Livia project. Alan Fagan, described as a trusted lieutenant, was sentenced to six years with the final four and a half years suspended. Paul Fagan received a six-year sentence with the final three and a half years suspended on conditions. Aaron King, the youngest defendant, was sentenced to four and a half years with the final 18 months suspended on conditions. The judge noted mitigating factors such as guilty pleas, remorse, and evidence of rehabilitation for all defendants.
Linda Finnegan, 51, of Stamullen, was found guilty of fraud under the Companies Act for withdrawing €35,601 from her family's Waldorf Barbers shop in Dublin. The shop, founded by her father Liam Finnegan, had been run successfully for many years, with Liam owning 75 % and Linda 25 %. After a falling out in 2016, Liam's share was bequeathed to two employees. Following Liam's death in February 2019, Linda withdrew €4,950 and €28,000 in March 2019 without permission, and later €2,651. Gardaí seized cash from her home and CCTV captured the withdrawals. The company was liquidated, but the employees continue trading under a new name. Linda has no prior convictions and has expressed remorse; the case was adjourned for sentencing to 2 November.
Sandra Hehir, 54, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to a charge of handling €124,055 in cash, allegedly proceeds of criminal conduct, at her Limerick home on June 17, 2020. Prosecutors indicated five other counts could be taken into consideration, with three facing nolle prosequi. Defense counsel requested time to produce references and noted that two co-accused, Vicky Hehir and Warren Hehir, had previously pleaded guilty to related money laundering charges involving €59,000 linked to works at Kilmurry Court, Limerick. Vicky Hehir admitted to one charge of money laundering regarding these works, while Warren Hehir admitted to handling the €59,000 and possessing a Rolex watch, allegedly proceeds of crime. The co-accused are listed for mention on October 23 to fix a sentence hearing. To allow for a potential undertaking regarding family members, defense counsel requested a separate sentence date for Sandra Hehir. The court, presided over by Mr Justice Michael MacGrath with Ms Justice Sarah Berkeley and Mr Justice James Faughnan, agreed to list her case for mention on October 31 to fix a sentence hearing. The matter was adjourned, and Sandra Hehir was remanded on bail on the same terms and conditions.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, Vicky Hehir (30) and Warren Hehir (33) pleaded guilty to money‑laundering offences linked to €59,000 spent on renovations at Kilmurry Court, Garryowen, Limerick, between 8 August 2019 and 17 June 2020. Warren was charged with possessing, using, converting, transferring or handling cash of that value, knowing or recklessly believing it to be proceeds of crime, and with handling a Rolex watch on 17 June 2020 under similar circumstances. He pleaded guilty to both charges. Vicky pleaded guilty to the single charge concerning the €59,000. The court adjourned the case to 2 October for report production before sentencing. A third person, Warren's mother Sandra Hehir (54), is also charged with multiple money‑laundering offences; her barrister has requested the court to revisit her case on 19 September.
Anthony Byrne, 40, used a fake name and doctored a letting contract to defraud four victims, each paying €3,000 for a rental deposit that never existed. He advertised the property on daft.ie, claiming to be a letting agent named Stephen Cummings, and demanded cash payments. Gardaí traced the scheme after a woman reported the fraud; they found the doctored contract and evidence linking Byrne to the false persona. Byrne pleaded guilty to four charges of deception and use of a false instrument at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He repaid the €12,000 to the victims and, after early guilty pleas and expressions of remorse, was sentenced to a two‑year term suspended in full for two years. The judge noted the financial loss was made good and considered Byrne's difficult family and financial circumstances. The victims suffered significant hardship and emotional distress.
Angela Manning, 59, of Ballinteer, pleaded guilty to seven charges of stealing over €122,000 from the joint account of an elderly couple, Ms Laetitia Lynam and her husband Enda O'Regan, during the Covid‑19 pandemic. She had been hired as a carer, given an ATM card and pin by Ms Lynam, and withdrew the money after falling for a Facebook romance fraud involving a fictitious US soldier named Sam. The court heard that Manning believed the money was a loan to be repaid and that she had no personal benefit from the theft. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced her to a fully suspended three‑year prison term, suspended for four years, and ordered her to undergo two years of therapy and to make efforts to repay the victims. The couple's home deeds were transferred to them, and Manning's husband had to return to work after her taking his retirement savings.
Ovidiu Raducanu, aged 38, was extradited from the UK and jailed for stealing more than €8,500 from 11 AIB ATMs in Dublin between 6 and 10 January 2020. He used a "transaction reversal fraud" scheme, inserting a genuine card to withdraw a small amount, placing a trapping device, then inserting a gift or loyalty card to withdraw the maximum amount, which was manually removed. The device triggered a re‑credit of the original card, leaving the bank account unchanged on the statement. Gardaí traced the thief and his accomplice's movements using GPS data from rented Go‑Cars and CCTV footage. Raducanu caused €5,800 of damage to the machines, and AIB suffered a total loss of €14,343. He pleaded guilty to 32 offences, including 15 thefts, 7 attempted thefts and 10 criminal damage.
Nikiwe Dube, 41, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to four charges of using a false instrument and two counts of deception. Judge Elva Duffy stated that Dube, who admitted to the offences, had posed as a child psychologist without the required academic qualifications, abusing the trust of vulnerable children and adolescents. The court heard that Dube used forged documents, including a psychological transcript with a false garda stamp, a fake PSI identification badge, and a false medical certificate, to secure employment. He dishonestly induced TTM Healthcare to place him on their books of employment between August 15, 2021, and September 9, 2021, causing a loss, and induced the HSE to give him an interview for employment on August 18, 2022. Dube received €172,000 in wages and expenses while working for Gateway Residential Care in Sligo. Judge Duffy noted that gardaí have not been able to confirm Dube's true identity, which is of concern to the court. While acknowledging mitigation factors such as his immediate admissions, remorse, and lack of previous convictions, the judge determined the case warranted a headline sentence of five and a half years. The final sentence of four years was backdated to August 5, 2022, when Dube first went into custody.
Mairead Latimer, a 35‑year‑old financial controller from Howth, pleaded guilty to four counts of stealing over €82,000 from Chopped Limited between December 2016 and July 2018. She authorised fictitious payments to "ghost" employees, sending more than €43,000 to her father's account, and inflated her own wages by over €12,000 without director approval. She also took more than €22,000 from Chopped stores on Grafton Street and Lucan and authorised over €3,000 in increased pension payments to her own plan. At the time of the hearing, she had repaid €73,546, leaving €7,852 outstanding. The court noted that she was dismissed from Chopped on 1 August 2018 after the fraud was discovered, and that she had been cooperative during her arrest and subsequent garda interview. The matter was adjourned for finalisation on 13 October.
Monday Augustine, 52, admitted to using false documents to secure asylum and citizenship in Ireland. He first arrived in 2002 as a Nigerian, claiming to be Liberian and using the name John Augustine Sawyeer. He married an Irish citizen in 2004, obtained citizenship in 2008, and later used a falsified Liberian birth certificate to acquire an Irish passport in 2009 and again in 2019. In October 2019 he wrote to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Services confessing the fraud and revealing his true name, Monday Augustine. He was arrested after a meeting with Gardaí and pleaded guilty. The court noted his long-term community involvement, employment, and religious devotion, and directed the Probation Service to assess him for a community service order in lieu of an 18‑month prison sentence, with a hearing scheduled for 25 October. No prior convictions were recorded.
Debbie Paget, 55, of Knowth Court, Ballymun, was convicted by a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court jury in May 2023 of dishonestly inducing by deception James Byrne to give her €10,000 after claiming his deceased father told her to ask for the money and that the devil would take his soul if he did not. She was also charged with inducing Byrne's sister, Maria, to give her €200, but the jury returned a not guilty verdict on that count. Paget pleaded not guilty to both charges. The judge described her as an "old‑fashioned confidence trickster" and sentenced her to 18 months' imprisonment, suspending the final six months on strict conditions. The case was heard in Dublin, with the judge noting that Byrne was a vulnerable person who believed the supernatural threat. No evidence was presented as to where the money was spent.
A 53‑year‑old Limerick man, Dermot McManus, pleaded guilty to three money‑laundering offences. He admitted handling €28,550 and £11,795 in cash on 17 June 2020, knowing or recklessly ignoring whether the money was criminal proceeds. Between 1 January 2018 and 17 June 2020 he used money credited to an account in his own name at the Limerick and District Credit Union, again recklessly ignoring its source. He also admitted handling a white Mercedes Sprinter van from 2 June 2020 to 23 May 2021. The case is adjourned to 16 October for sentencing, and his curfew bail condition has been lifted. His partner, Terese Halpin, 50, was charged with possession of the same cash and allowing a Permanent TSB account to be used for the proceeds of crime; those charges were dropped after a nolle prosequi was entered.
Monday Augustine, aged 52, admitted to using false documents to secure asylum and later Irish citizenship. He first arrived in Ireland in 2002 as a Nigerian, claiming to be Liberian and using the name John Augustine Sawyeer. He married an Irish citizen in 2004, obtained citizenship in 2008, and received a passport in 2009, all under the false name. In 2019 he applied for a new passport using the same falsified birth certificate. After a religious experience in 2018, Augustine wrote to the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Services in October 2019, confessing the fraud and revealing his true identity. He was arrested, showed full cooperation, and pleaded guilty. He has no prior convictions, works for a cleaning company, and is described as a respected, pro‑social individual. The case is pending finalisation on 18 July.
The High Court ordered the removal of a mortgage charge held by Promontoria Oyster DAC over the home of Marie Gibson at Castletymon Green, Coolock, Dublin 5. Mr Justice Brian Cregan ruled that Pauline Gibson, Marie's daughter, must pay €75,000 in exemplary damages for engaging in an unscrupulous fraud involving the 2003 transfer of the property. The court found that Pauline Gibson forged signatures to defraud her parents and Dublin City Council. Additionally, solicitor Kevin O'Gorman was ordered to pay €5,000 in compensatory damages and €30,000 in aggravated damages for gross negligence, including failing to provide written advice and destroying original documents. The judge stated he is considering referring findings regarding Pauline Gibson to the Director of Public Prosecutions and findings against O'Gorman to the Law Society and Revenue Commissioners. However, the judge indicated he would consider further submissions before making a final decision on those referrals when the matter returns before the court in two weeks time. The court declared the 2003 transfer and the subsequent mortgage charge void, noting that the receiver was not validly appointed. Promontoria Oyster DAC opposed the removal of the charge, arguing undue influence, but the judge rejected this argument. Pauline Gibson did not participate in the proceedings.
Francie Stokes, 23, of Lucan, pleaded guilty to possessing €52,355 as proceeds of crime in his AIB account. The money was fraudulently transferred from a German aviation company. Stokes had a prior money‑laundering conviction for €3,000 in 2020 and a one‑month probation in 2021. AIB recovered €28,000; about €24,000 remains withdrawn. Gardaí noted multiple ATM and internet withdrawals, but CCTV showed none of the accused. Stokes was arrested on suspicion of money laundering, had no legitimate source for the €52,000, and had been receiving pandemic unemployment payments. Judge Martin Nolan, after Probation Services' assessment, sentenced Stokes to 150 hours of community service instead of 18 months' imprisonment. The sentence reflects Stokes' reckless conduct, his family responsibilities, and his prior record of money‑laundering.
David Gregan, 43, was sentenced to 150 hours of community service instead of 18 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to making a false statement to a solicitor. In 2017 he claimed he had been injured in a collision between a bus and a car in Dublin city centre, alleging soft‑tissue injuries to his shoulders. The incident involved Dublin Bus and a car registered to Trinity College. An anti‑fraud investigator reviewed CCTV footage and found Gregan, though on the footpath, was not close enough to be struck by the vehicles. He withdrew the claim in 2018 and no payment was made, but the parties incurred €9,000 in legal fees. Gregan has no prior convictions, has worked in security for 25 years, and has a history of mental‑health difficulties. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Gregan had "succumbed to the temptation of easy money" and therefore did not impose a custodial sentence.
In a High Court decision on 21 June 2023, Justice Siobhan Stack appointed chartered accountants Jim Luby and Enda Lowry of McStay Luby as joint liquidators for GWD Forestry Ltd, an Irish‑registered forestry investment company accused of defrauding investors of around €30 million. The ruling followed applications from two creditor groups: one led by Franco Bertellino, who sought provisional liquidator Declan de Lacey of PKF O'Connor Leddy Holmes, and another represented by Sally O'Neill BL, who opposed Bertellino's nominee and requested Luby and Lowry. The court noted that the opposing creditors had earlier moved to restore the company to the register and had attempted a creditors' meeting to wind it up, but the High Court action halted that effort. Both sides acknowledged the company's involvement in fraud, and the court found the petitioning creditors' case insufficient to appoint their nominee. The appointment of Luby and Lowry aims to investigate the company's affairs and recover investors' funds.
Kayode Falade, 37, of Phibsboro, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to five counts of money laundering committed between June 27 and 29, 2017. The charges include converting proceeds of crime into Nigerian currency at a Blanchardstown post office, possessing up to €5,000 in proceeds from ATMs in north Dublin, and transferring proceeds into a bank account. The court heard that hackers intercepted a €125,702 invoice payment intended for Cobec Engineering, diverting it to an EBS account linked to Falade. Although €114,621 was recalled, IPUT suffered an unrecovered loss of €11,091. Falade, who has 31 previous convictions, was arrested in March 2018. Defence counsel Simon Matthews BL stated Falade was not involved in the hacking and was easily identified via the bank account. He noted Falade works full-time, pays maintenance for a son, and has complied with bail conditions. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned sentencing until Friday, June 23.
The High Court has refused a pre-trial application to adjourn repossession proceedings brought by Receiver James Anderson, appointed by Pepper Finance Ireland DAC, against Davy Fitzgerald. Ms Helen Fitzgerald, who resides at the property in Co Clare, sought an adjournment until the Residential Tenancies Board (RTB) adjudicated on her claim that she holds a valid tenancy and that no termination notice was served. The plaintiffs opposed the application. Mr Justice Garrett Simons rejected the bid, ruling that the High Court, not the RTB, has jurisdiction to determine whether a binding tenancy exists against the plaintiffs. He noted the 2004 Residential Tenancies Act does not grant the RTB exclusive jurisdiction on this matter and directed that his judgment be brought to the RTB's attention. The case is to be readied for hearing. Mr Fitzgerald, who appears on the RTE Television programme Ireland's Fittest Family, has raised separate issues regarding loans from ACC Bank, alleging fraud by former official Jarlath Mitchell and disputing the validity of the loan transfer to Pepper. He also contests a €25,000 interest surcharge demanded by Pepper and argues the case belongs in the Circuit Court. Lawyers for the fund and receiver rejected these criticisms.
James Meagher, a 39‑year‑old Kilkenny hurling coach, was convicted of defrauding a childhood friend of €42,000, an amount that the victim had believed was an investment in a non‑existent sliotar business. The fraud was prosecuted under Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001, with seven additional offences considered. Judge Elva Duffy sentenced Meagher to two years in prison, suspended the final 18 months, and postponed the start of the custodial term until 1 June to accommodate his college commitments. Meagher had appealed the severity of the sentence on 18 April but withdrew that appeal at a brief Court of Appeal hearing. He had previously coached the Kilkenny minor hurling team and was part of the Ballyhale Shamrocks backroom staff that won the All‑Ireland club championship this year. The victim's impact statement described a loss of self‑esteem and a sense of betrayal. James Meagher pleaded guilty.
A notorious Limerick criminal, Gerard Mackin, has been jailed for three-and-a-half years after being convicted of laundering €4,780 as the proceeds of criminal behaviour at Rhebogue Road in Limerick on April 17, 2019. He also admitted to knowingly or recklessly handling, acquiring, and possessing the said property contrary to Section 7 of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act of 2010. The court heard that Mackin, who has a previous conviction for assault causing harm, was extradited from Spain and pleaded guilty to the charges. The judge noted that the sum of money was at the lower end of the scale but emphasized the seriousness of the circumstances. The sentence was backdated to December 5, 2022, when Mackin first went into custody. In mitigation, the court was informed that Mackin had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and intended to turn his life around upon release. He plans to return to Spain with his family and has taken steps to address past issues, including having an implant inserted in 2020 to deal with alcoholism. The matter was adjourned following the sentence.
Debbie Paget, 56, of Knowth Court, Ballymun, Dublin, was found guilty by a jury of dishonestly inducing by deception James Byrne to give her €10,000, after she claimed her deceased father had instructed him to do so. The jury returned a not guilty verdict on a second charge of inducing Maria Byrne to give her €200. Paget pleaded not guilty to both offences. The trial, held at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, lasted a little over four hours. Judge Pauline Codd remanded Paget on continuing bail until July 10 for a sentence hearing. Paget thanked the jury and described the case as highly unusual, noting her long‑standing reputation as a psychic medium. She denied ever charging for readings or receiving money from the complainants. The case highlighted the use of alleged supernatural claims to obtain funds.
A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has begun deliberations in the trial of a woman accused of defrauding two siblings of €10,200 through representations involving spiritual communications. Debbie Paget, of Knowth Court, Ballymun, Dublin, has pleaded not guilty to two counts of dishonestly obtaining money by deception from James Byrne and Maria Byrne. The prosecution alleges that Ms Paget, who worked as a home carer, conducted purported readings during which she claimed their deceased father had instructed them to provide her with cash totals. Mr Byrne testified he withdrew €10,000 from his bank account and gave it to the accused following such a session. His sister stated she provided €200 after similar representations. Ms Paget denied conducting readings for the complainants or receiving any money from them, maintaining she has offered psychic services free of charge for four decades. Judge Pauline Codd completed her legal directions to the jury, which commenced deliberations on the afternoon of 15 May 2023 and will resume the following day.
A court heard that Declan King, 39, of Courtney Place, Ballybough, pleaded guilty to trespassing at several homes in Clontarf and Marino in August and September 2022. On the night of 7 September 2022, a resident of Marino left a small sitting‑room window slightly ajar and locked all other doors and windows. The next day she discovered her car missing from the driveway, the keys gone, and five bottles of spirits—including a bottle of Jameson whiskey—absent from the larder. Other items taken were a laptop, weighing scales, an apron, yellow rubber gloves, brown sunglasses, a black bra, a Lidl shopping bag, and medication bearing the victim's name. Garda Sharon English reported that the car was later recovered in nearby Ballybough. Gardaí identified King and found the medication and other items at his home. King's 283 previous convictions include 175 under the Theft and Fraud Act.
Debbie Paget, a self-described psychic medium, is on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where she has pleaded not guilty to two counts of dishonestly by deception. The prosecution alleges she induced James Byrne and Maria Byrne to provide two sums of cash totalling €10,200 by claiming their deceased father instructed them to do so. Complainant James Byrne testified that during a reading, Paget told him his father said to give her €10,000, adding that failure to comply would be a sin. He stated he felt pressured and subsequently handed her the money in an envelope. His sister, Maria Byrne, testified that she gave Paget €200 after being told her deceased father communicated with the accused. Paget denied all allegations, telling gardai she had never charged for her services and did not conduct readings for the Byrnes. She claimed the siblings were attempting to destroy her life and noted that Mr Byrne had previously gifted her a television and a freezer. Under cross-examination, Mr Byrne acknowledged a 2000 conviction for sexual offences but argued his past was irrelevant. The matter is currently at the trial stage before Judge Pauline Codd and a jury, and the proceedings continue.
In a hearing before the Special Criminal Court, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) was ordered to retain the original versions of documents seized from a woman accused of money‑laundering. The documents were intended for the legal defence of Jennifer Dunne, who is 38, and her partner Nathan Kinsella, 44, both from Richmond in Blackrock, Co. Dublin. Michael Bowman SC requested the originals, arguing that CAB had already provided copies and that the originals would better serve his client. CAB's Grainne O'Neill BL explained that the seized papers could be relevant to other cases and that returning them might raise evidential or forensic issues. Judge Tony Hunt ruled that the originals should remain in CAB's possession, citing their potential broader use beyond Ms. Dunne's case. Ms. Dunne and Mr. Kinsella face six money‑laundering charges under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 and are scheduled to go on trial on 31 October 2023.
Four men are to be sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for their roles in a multi-million euro investment fraud involving Custom House Capital Ltd (CHC) between October 2008 and July 2011. Former CEO Harry Cassidy, former Head of Private Clients John Whyte, and former Head of Finance Paul Lavery pleaded guilty to conspiring to defraud investors and clients by intentionally misleading them regarding asset placement. John Mulholland pleaded guilty to one count of neglecting his duty as a non-executive director of CHC. Judge Orla Crowe is scheduled to read 197 victim impact statements before passing sentence. The four defendants, who were remanded on continuing bail, face charges related to dishonest acts inducing clients to entrust funds. Separately, Ciara Kelleher, the firm's former senior portfolio relationship manager, pleaded not guilty to a charge of conspiring to defraud investors. Her case was not concluded; a jury failed to reach a verdict earlier this year, and she will face a re-trial in 2025. The court previously noted the need to review extensive material before finalising the proceedings for the four guilty parties.
A 38-year-old Sligo man has pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to directing a 20-member criminal organisation that operated across the northwest between October 2019 and January 2022. Barry Young coordinated drug dealing, intimidation and money laundering across Sligo, Donegal, Leitrim and Galway through a hierarchical command structure. Garda investigations uncovered drug seizures totalling over €628,000 linked to the gang, alongside €40,000 in cash recovered from Young despite his stated income being social welfare payments. Evidence presented during the sentencing hearing showed Young dispatched debt collectors to private homes to commit criminal damage and extort money. The court heard Young had 81 previous convictions and had been twice sentenced for drug dealing, most recently in 2006. His defence counsel noted Young had expressed suicidal ideation over his significant drug debts and described his arrest at Dublin Airport in January as a relief. The non-jury court adjourned sentencing to 31 July. The offence carries a maximum sentence of life imprisonment.
In a High Court hearing, Canadian businessman Louis Trudel, CEO of TTMG International SARL, alleged that Waterford‑based Carray Homes Unlimited and its director Darren Carroll committed fraud by misrepresenting progress on a €1.2 million loan used to build 25 houses and 6 apartments at Adamstown Kilmeaden. Trudel claimed the loans, repayable in 11 months at 30 % interest, were advanced in two tranches: €300,000 to demonstrate cash flow to Waterford County Council and €900,000 to purchase land. He said aerial photographs supplied by the defendants were falsified, and that a colleague's drone images proved the reports were misleading. Trudel has not seen any agreement with the council and seeks repayment of the loans. After partial payment of €50,000, the remaining €250,000 of the first tranche remains unpaid.
A former League of Ireland footballer, Edward Fitzpatrick, 39, and two other men were jailed for moving almost €200,000 in crime cash. Fitzpatrick pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering, while Jonathon Barton, 42, and Gary O'Neill, 40, pleaded guilty to counts of money laundering. Garda surveillance showed Barton driving a van to Fitzpatrick's home, where they entered the property together. Barton later left with a heavy blue shopping bag, which was found in O'Neill's car containing €199,505 in cash and an additional €2,250. The court noted the men's remorse, guilty pleas, and family responsibilities. Justice Melanie Greally imposed four‑year, 42‑month and 30‑month sentences on Barton, Fitzpatrick and O'Neill respectively, suspending the final year of each sentence. The men had no prior convictions for serious offences, and the court considered their rehabilitation efforts. The case highlighted the role of drug debt and addiction in the operation.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Orla Crowe adjourned the sentencing of four men until May 12, remanding them on the same terms. The defendants, former CHC CEO Harry Cassidy, John Whyte, Paul Lavery, and John Mulholland, pleaded guilty to charges including conspiring to defraud investors and clients of Custom House Capital Ltd (CHC) by misleading them regarding asset placement between October 2008 and July 2011. Mulholland also admitted to neglecting his duties as a non-executive director. The court reviewed 197 victim impact statements detailing severe financial and emotional losses. While the judge indicated a need to review extensive material before finalising the case, the matter was adjourned rather than concluded. Cassidy is disqualified as a director for 15 years, while Whyte faces a 10-year disqualification. A fifth defendant, Ciara Kelleher, pleaded not guilty to conspiracy charges, with her case status remaining contested. The liquidation process has recovered €41 million of the €61 million in misappropriated funds.
Chelsea Dooley, a 23-year-old childcare worker from Blanchardstown, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to two counts of possessing the proceeds of crime. The court heard that Dooley allowed her bank account to be used to receive €23,899 of funds stolen from a victim's AIB account following a 'smishing' fraud. Gardai were contacted in January 2021 regarding the theft, which involved nine transactions totaling €24,900 between December 2020 and January 2021. Prosecutors stated that Dooley's account, opened when she was a child, received the majority of the illicit funds, while a separate account received one euro. During her interview, Dooley claimed she had lost her bank card but could not explain CCTV footage showing an unknown male using it to withdraw cash. Defense counsel argued that Dooley did not profit from the scheme and had no previous convictions. Judge Martina Baxter noted Dooley's remorse, lack of financial gain, good employment history, and further education. The judge handed down a 12-month sentence but suspended it in lieu of Dooley carrying out 200 hours of community service.
A 34‑year‑old Limerick man, Richard Treacy, was charged at the Special Criminal Court with an alleged money‑laundering offence linked to renovation work at his home. The charge alleges that between 1 January 2014 and 12 January 2021, Treacy either knew or was reckless about whether the renovation work was funded by proceeds of criminal conduct, and that he concealed the true source of the property. The offence contravenes Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. Treacy was arrested on a warrant issued by the Special Criminal Court and presented to the court in the Criminal Courts of Justice building on Parkgate Street, Dublin. He was charged before a three‑judge, non‑jury court, and Mr Justice Tony Hunt ordered that he be tried before the court.
Gerard Mackin, 40, pleaded guilty to laundering €4,780 as proceeds of criminal conduct at Rhebogue Road, Limerick, on April 17, 2019, contrary to Section 7 of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. The Special Criminal Court heard that Mackin, who was extradited from Spain in December 2022, admitted to handling the cash, which prosecution counsel stated was not a legitimate deposit but crime proceeds. Defence counsel Ronan Kennedy SC submitted that Mackin accepted he had made poor choices, has never met his infant son due to his custody, and intends to return to Spain to rebuild his life. The court noted his previous conviction in March 2016, where he was jailed for three years for a 'depraved and barbaric' assault involving a nail-gun. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Sarah Berkeley and Alan Mitchell, remanded Mackin in custody until May 19, when he will be sentenced. The matter was adjourned for sentencing and is not yet concluded.
A 35‑year‑old man named Declan McDonald was sentenced to five and a half years in prison after pleading guilty to money laundering at his Dublin home. Gardaí found €460,455 in cash packed in vacuum bags, along with vacuum sealers, gloves and empty packs, which they described as a "counting house" for proceeds of crime, likely drug dealing. McDonald, who has 44 prior convictions, admitted he had fallen into debt through gambling, drink and drugs and claimed he did not know the money's amount or ownership. He accepted responsibility and expressed remorse, citing a difficult childhood and chronic substance abuse. The judge considered his cooperation, family support and past drug problems, but noted the money's criminal origin as an aggravating factor, resulting in the imposed sentence. The case remains at the sentencing stage.
Michael Small, a 56‑year‑old former solicitor from Galway, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment for deception and false accounting offences that occurred between 2008 and 2009. While practising in Limerick, Small gave undertakings to a mortgage lender that the loan proceeds would be used to purchase specific properties. The money was drawn into an account, but the properties were never bought. Small admitted the money was dispersed to clients, mortgage brokers and other parties, and that he had misled his accountant. He pleaded guilty and cooperated with investigators. The court noted that although Small did not receive a large personal benefit – €88,000 was attributed to him – he was the principal cause of the offences. The judge accepted his guilty pleas and cooperation, and ordered the sentence to be adjourned for custody. The case was investigated by the Law Society and Gardaí after Small self‑reported a "secret client account.".
David Gregan, 43, of Swords, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of making a false statement to a solicitor on October 20, 2017. The court heard that Gregan falsely claimed to have suffered soft tissue injuries in a 2017 collision between a Dublin Bus and a car registered to Trinity College. An anti-fraud investigator reviewed CCTV footage and determined Gregan was not near enough to be hit by the vehicles. Although Gregan withdrew his claim in 2018 and no payment was made, the parties incurred €9,000 in legal fees. Judge Martin Nolan noted that Gregan had "succumbed to the temptation of what he thought was easy money." Considering Gregan's lack of previous convictions, his 25 years of work in the security industry, and his history of mental health difficulties, the judge ruled that a custodial sentence was not appropriate. He sentenced Gregan to 150 hours of community service in lieu of imprisonment. However, the judge adjourned the case to allow the Probation Service to assess Gregan's suitability for the order. The matter is scheduled to return to court on June 12.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing on 22 March 2023, the court set a trial date of 31 October for Nathan Kinsella, 44, and his partner Jennifer Dunne, 38, who are charged with six money‑laundering offences under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering & Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. The charges involve converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using funds deposited in an AIB account between 1 January 2018 and 31 December 2019, with the defendants allegedly knowing or recklessly believing the funds were proceeds of criminal conduct. Barrister Diarmaid McGuinness SC requested a five‑week trial, noting a health factor that might affect full sitting days for Kinsella. The court agreed to vary Kinsella's bail from three to one Garda‑station visits per week. Both defendants remain on bail until 30 July, when the case will be next mentioned.