Timmy O'Reilly, 48, of Kilkenny, was jailed after the Court of Appeal overturned his fully‑suspended 18‑month sentence for laundering over €120,000 while receiving social welfare. The appeal court, led by Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, found the original sentence unduly lenient and re‑sentenced him to 18 months with the final six months suspended. O'Reilly had pleaded guilty to eight counts of money‑laundering under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010, involving 32 offences linked to €125,000 in an Irish Life account and two credit‑union accounts over eight years. He also had a separate suspended sentence for assault causing harm. The State argued the amount laundered and the length of time involved warranted custodial punishment, while O'Reilly's counsel highlighted his lack of a broader criminal scheme and his role as a community member.
Karina Cully, 36, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment after stealing €629,000 from a small office supplies company over seven years. She transferred the money to her personal account and spent it on holidays and eating out. Cully pleaded guilty to theft, forgery, deception in a mortgage application and money laundering between 2014 and 2021. She admitted the theft was a compulsive habit she could not stop. The court noted her early guilty plea, full admissions and cooperation, and her strong work record. She had no prior convictions. The judge highlighted the persistent nature of the theft from a small enterprise where she was known daily. The prosecution had evidence of unauthorised transfers and forged mortgage documents. Cully's apology and remorse were considered, but the sentence reflected the seriousness of the repeated theft.
In a High Court case, a shareholder of Hears Technology Limited alleges that entertainer John Bishop terminated all staff contracts on 24 June while attending Glastonbury, and ended the company's lease in County Kilkenny, actions Bishop denies. Bishop's solicitor says employment law was followed and redundancies were forced by BAK Holdings Limited's attempts to scuttle the firm. BAK claims Bishop's conduct is oppressive, seeking a declaration and compensation or purchase of BAK's 42.5 % shareholding. Hears, which also claims BAK and director Brendan Morrissey defrauded it of about €1 million, has denied the fraud allegations. The dispute involves two sets of proceedings before the High Court, one for oppression and one for alleged fraud, with the judge adjourned the matter for a month to allow a stay application. The case remains pending.
Francie Stokes, 23, of Lucan, pleaded guilty to possessing €52,355 in his AIB account as proceeds of crime linked to an invoice redirect fraud. The money was fraudulently transferred from a German aviation company. Stokes had previously received a one‑month probation in October 2021 for laundering €3,000. He is currently on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment and has no legitimate source for the €52,000. AIB recovered €28,000; about €24,000 remains withdrawn. Gardaí found multiple ATM withdrawals, but CCTV showed none were made by Stokes. He exercised his right to silence during questioning. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case for ten weeks to allow Probation Services to decide if Stokes is suitable for community service. If suitable, he would be ordered to carry out 150 hours of community service within one year in lieu of an 18‑month prison term. The hearing was held on 16 March 2023.
Liam Evans, 31, of Clondalkin, received a two‑year suspended prison sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for laundering money by cashing five cheques totalling €23,500 written by an elderly woman in her 80s. The woman had been approached by men claiming to be from a construction company and was persuaded to write cheques to various payees, including Evans. She ultimately paid over €44,000, but most of the promised construction was never carried out. Evans pleaded guilty to three counts of laundering the proceeds of crime. The court ordered him to pay €5,000 to the victim within a year. The case was brought to light after the HSE alerted Gardaí to a suspected elder‑abuse scheme, leading to the investigation and Evans' arrest. The court noted Evans' cooperation, remorse and guilty plea in handing down the suspended sentence. The stolen money was never recovered, and the victim remains at a loss.
Fiachra Slator, 40, of Clondalkin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of a small quantity of drugs at his home and a larger quantity at a location in Straffan, Co Kildare, together with bagging material, weighing scales and a blender. He also pleaded guilty to money laundering for €125,110 found in a locked box at his mother's home. The offences, committed on 14 April 2022, involved over €80,000 in drugs and €125,000 in cash. Garda Ciaran O'Neill explained that two search warrants, based on confidential information, led to the seizures. Judge Martin Nolan, noting Slator's early guilty plea, admissions, medical condition and desire to change, departed from the ten‑year mandatory minimum and imposed a six‑year sentence, back‑dated to the date Slator entered custody.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, 60‑year‑old Andrew Edward avoided jail for his role in a "classic invoice redirection fraud." Edward, of Dun Saithne Court, Balbriggan, had allowed an ex‑colleague to use his bank account, believing the colleague trustworthy. He pleaded guilty to money laundering on 4 March 2021 and had seven prior traffic convictions. Garda Barry Griffin reported €19,095 was transferred into Edward's account, flagged as suspicious, with €17,625 recovered; about €1,500 was withdrawn and not recovered. Edward admitted to permitting the use of his account and keeping €200 for himself. Rebecca Smith BL defended him as a married family man with medical issues, noting his remorse and cooperation. Judge Martin Nolan described the case as a reckless invoice redirection fraud, imposed a nine‑month sentence, and suspended it in full on strict conditions.
A man has pleaded guilty to money laundering before the Special Criminal Court following his extradition from Spain. Gerard Mackin (40), originally from west Belfast, admitted to handling €4,780 in proceeds of criminal conduct at Rhebogue Road, Limerick, on April 17, 2019. He was arrested at Dublin Airport in December last year under a European Arrest Warrant. Mackin pleaded guilty to one charge under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. The three-judge court, presided over by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judge Sarah Berkeley and Judge Alan Mitchell, adjourned sentencing to March 30. The defendant's legal team requested a governor's report from Portlaoise Prison, which was granted. Mackin has previous convictions including a 2017 sentence for assault causing harm in Limerick.
The High Court heard that Mr Declan McDonald of PWC has been appointed examiner to Tower Trade Finance Ireland Limited (TTFI) and Deal Partners Logistics Ltd (DPL). TTFI has a net asset deficiency of €10.1 million and DPL €9.5 million. The companies attribute their financial difficulties to the collapse of JACC Sports Distributors and other issues, including fraud and client insolvencies. Mr McDonald has prepared an interim report and is working on a scheme of arrangement with creditors, hoping to present it before the end of the 100‑day examinership period. John Lavelle BL, representing the examiner, said creditors would benefit from a survival plan rather than liquidation. The court noted that both firms owe creditors over €13 million and that directors have committed €400 000 for the scheme. No objections were raised to extending the examinership period. The court heard that the examiner's report indicates a reasonable prospect of survival if the scheme is approved.
Four senior executives of Custom House Capital have been directed to appear before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 8 March following guilty pleas to fraud-related charges. Between October 2022 and January 2023, former chief executive Harry Cassidy, former head of private clients John Whyte, head of finance Paul Lavery, and non-executive director John Mulholland entered pleas of guilty to conspiracy to defraud investors and neglectful discharge of directorial duty. The pleas relate to allegations that the executives intentionally misled clients regarding asset placement between October 2008 and July 2011. Publication of the pleas was delayed pending the trial of co-accused Ciara Kelleher, senior portfolio relationship manager, whose jury failed to reach a verdict at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned proceedings pending the defendants' appearance next week.
A jury in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court could not reach a verdict on the case of Ciara Kelleher, a former financial services manager accused of conspiring to defraud investors in Custom House Capital Ltd. The trial, which lasted over 15 hours across five days, focused on allegations that Kelleher, aged 51, helped conceal the true location of client money by issuing incorrect valuations between October 2008 and July 2011. The prosecution, led by Lorcan Staines SC, presented evidence that the firm's CEO and finance head used client funds for property investments and that Kelleher was aware of these misappropriations. Kelleher denied wrongdoing, claiming she was unaware of any fraudulent activity. The judge, Orla Crowe, accepted that the jury could not agree on a verdict and remanded Kelleher on continuing bail, with the case scheduled for mention on 8 March. The trial highlighted the firm's liquidation in 2011 and the regulatory concerns that had been raised in 2009. Ciara Kelleher pleaded not guilty. Custom House Capital pleaded not guilty.
In the High Court, owners Michael O'Shea and Eithne Uí Riordan of ADT House, Crossguns Bridge, Dublin 7, are suing UK-based SLGI (Holdings) Plc for allegedly fraudulently claiming ownership of the office block. The plaintiffs allege SLGI unlawfully registered itself as proprietor and terminated a lease with tenant ADT Ltd, receiving €246,000, despite never being the lawful owners. While proceedings against third parties ADT Ltd, American District Telegraph Services International Ltd, and the Property Registration Authority (PRA) have been settled, the case against SLGI remains active. Counsel Stephen Dowling SC informed Mr Justice Brian O'Moore that the dispute with the ADT parties and the PRA was resolved, with no fraud alleged against those entities. The owners previously secured an order rectifying the land registry to remove SLGI as the registered owner. SLGI's solicitors intend to bring a motion in April to come off record. The court agreed to adjourn the matter to April to allow for the implementation of the settlement. The case against SLGI was not concluded and remains pending.
Carolyn Riguad, aged 63, was sentenced to one year in prison for stealing €87,000 from her employer over seven years, from 2009 to 2016. She pleaded guilty to sample counts of theft and producing a false instrument in a 270‑count indictment. Riguad, who ran the Irish arm of a UK business, diverted company funds into her own accounts, altering cheques and at one point attempting to cover her tracks by re‑diverting funds within the company. The fraud was uncovered when she went on sick leave in 2016, leading to the discovery of 258 cheques with discrepancies. Riguad denied involvement when interviewed by Gardaí, claiming a colleague was responsible. She has no prior convictions, suffers from medical difficulties and memory issues, and has an adult son with a medical condition. The court noted her competence and the breach of trust, and, considering her health, imposed a one‑year custodial sentence. The company has since revised its procedures.
The fraud trial of former Custom House Capital (CHC) manager Ciara Kelleher heard on day 11 that former CEO Harry Cassidy, John Whyte, Paul Lavery, and John Mulholland have pleaded guilty to charges arising from a Garda investigation. Cassidy, Whyte, and Lavery admitted to conspiring with others to defraud investors and clients of CHC between October 2008 and July 2011. Mulholland, a non-executive director, pleaded guilty to one count of neglect on the part of a director of a body corporate regarding the company's dishonest acts. Kelleher, who pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiring to defraud CHC investors by misleading them about asset placement, remains the sole defendant facing trial. Evidence presented included testimony from Detective Garda David Coyne regarding Kelleher's 2016 arrest and Detective Garda Aidan Deveney, who detailed the retrieval of 2.5 million objects from a server and the use of forensic tools to search over 1.2 million emails. Deveney acknowledged that Cassidy allegedly pressured Kelleher regarding client valuations and fees. The trial continues before Judge Orla Crowe and the jury.
During the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, the jury heard that Gardaí carried out a keyword search of over one million emails sent and received within Custom House Capital (CHC) as part of an investigation into an alleged conspiracy to defraud investors. The defendant, Ciara Kelleher, aged 51, was questioned about her role in checking information entered into the 'Unity' system and about whether she was aware of any fraudulent activity. She denied that she had knowledge of or participated in any deception, stating that she only provided information she believed to be correct and that she was not aware of any 'backing out' process used to disguise fraud. Kelleher also denied that she had knowingly issued false valuations or backdated invoices, and she said she had raised concerns with senior staff. The trial continues before Judge Orla Crowe and a jury. Ciara Kelleher pleaded not guilty.
During a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial, Ciara Kelleher, a former financial services manager at Custom House Capital, pleaded not guilty to one count of conspiracy to defraud investors. The jury heard that Kelleher, aged 51, claimed internal emails did not reveal her awareness of criminal activity between October 2008 and July 2011. In a second interview with Gardaí on 29 January 2020, she denied that her emails to John Whyte and Paul Lavery were offers to facilitate fraud, stating they were requests for training and procedural clarification to resolve a backlog of client valuations. Kelleher maintained that her team followed procedures, that she had no reason to suspect wrongdoing, and that she was unaware of a Central Bank directive or any illicit handling of client funds. The case remains before Judge Orla Crowe and a jury.
A human trafficking trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has been discharged after ten days due to unforeseen circumstances. The case against Natalia Nogueira Da Silva of Drumlish, County Longford, and Ivanilce Vailones Fidelis of Roscommon is expected to recommence before a new jury later this month. Judge Patricia Ryan discharged the existing jury, citing the impossibility of proceeding under current circumstances. Da Silva has admitted 35 charges including organising prostitution, facilitating illegal entry, and money laundering offences alleged between 2015 and 2020. She has denied a single count of human trafficking. Vailones Fidelis has denied all 18 charges against her, including two counts of human trafficking, one count of organising prostitution, and money laundering charges covering the same period. The original trial had been scheduled for six weeks. The matter was adjourned to Friday for assignment of a new trial date.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a Brazilian woman gave evidence that she was required to engage in sexual relations with one of the accused and her husband on multiple occasions. Testifying via video-link with an interpreter, the complainant described being selected as a "girlfriend" for weekends at properties in Roscommon and various hotels. She stated she was not willing to participate in these activities. The prosecution alleges that Ivanilce Vailones Fidelis, of Racecourse Road, Roscommon, and Natalia Nogueira Da Silva, of Drumlish, County Longford, trafficked two vulnerable Brazilian women for sexual exploitation. The court heard the complainant was encouraged to consume alcohol and drugs, and was instructed to continue working during menstruation. She was subsequently evicted from an apartment near Kildare Village after requesting repairs. Ms Vailones Fidelis, aged 46, has denied all 18 charges including human trafficking and money laundering offences dating between 2015 and 2020. Ms Da Silva, aged 32, has admitted 35 charges but denies one count of human trafficking. The trial continues before Ms Justice Patricia Ryan.
A Brazilian woman has testified at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that she expected merely to survive each day while allegedly trafficked in Ireland for sexual exploitation. Giving evidence via video-link with interpreter support, the woman described arriving in 2018 after being promised massage work, but was moved weekly between locations including Ballymahon, County Longford. She stated she was required to engage in sexual services, serving seven to nine clients daily at €100 to €150 each, while having limited English and facing aggressive clients. The witness detailed a system whereby she paid weekly fees for website listing, accommodation ranging from €500 to €900, transport, and transferred half her earnings to an account controlled by accused parties. She recalled meeting other women at a Christmas gathering organised by one of the accused. Natalia Nogueira Da Silva, of Drumlish, County Longford, has pleaded guilty to organising prostitution and money laundering but denies one human trafficking charge. Ivanilce Vailones Fidelis, of Roscommon, denies all eighteen charges including two human trafficking counts.
A human trafficking trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has been adjourned following the unavailability of a complainant. The witness, who has been giving evidence via video link with the aid of an interpreter, was scheduled to face cross-examination but became unable to attend. Judge Patricia Ryan informed the jury that the witness may remain unavailable for more than a week and discharged the jury for the day, with proceedings expected to resume the following afternoon. The State alleges that Natalia Nogueira Da Silva, aged 32, of Cairn Hill View, Drumlish, County Longford, and Ivanilce Vailones Fidelis, aged 46, of Castle Manor, Racecourse Road, Roscommon, trafficked two vulnerable Brazilian women for exploitation between 2015 and 2020. Ms Vailones Fidelis has denied eighteen charges, including human trafficking and money laundering offences. Ms Da Silva has admitted thirty-five charges but denies one count of human trafficking in 2019.
At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, a defence barrister has proposed that a Brazilian woman alleging she was trafficked to work as a prostitute was in fact already a sex worker who chose to come to Ireland for that purpose. The complainant, giving evidence via video link with an interpreter, has previously stated she worked as a hairdresser in Brazil. During cross-examination on the second day, the defence counsel for Ivanilce Vailones Fidelis put multiple propositions to the woman, including that she was free to leave accommodation, controlled her own clients, and that her work profile was voluntarily managed. The defence also presented social media evidence from the woman's Instagram and Tinder accounts showing photographs from her time in Ireland. The complainant maintained she had no support network and was instructed to obey orders, with hopes of completing three months before being released. Natalia Nogueira Da Silva, of Drumlish, County Longford, has admitted charges including organising prostitution and money laundering but denied one human trafficking count. Vailones Fidelis pleaded not guilty. Da Silva pleaded not guilty.
A woman giving evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has described coming to Ireland with hopes of improving her circumstances and saving money to start a business. The witness, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, told the jury she arrived under what she characterised as an employment arrangement with expectations of financial gain. The woman was testifying in the trial of Natalia Nogueira Da Silva, of Drumlish, County Longford, and Ivanilce Vailones Fidelis, of Roscommon, who are accused of human trafficking. The State alleges both defendants trafficked two vulnerable Brazilian women for exploitation. During cross-examination, the witness clarified aspects of her initial complaint to gardaí and addressed questions regarding her immigration status and residency application. Ms Da Silva has pleaded guilty to organising prostitution and money laundering offences, and has admitted facilitating illegal entry to the State. She maintains her not-guilty plea to human trafficking. Ms Vailones Fidelis has pleaded not guilty to all charges, including human trafficking, organising prostitution, and money laundering. The trial continues before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury.
A woman giving evidence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court has described being moved between rural towns weekly while allegedly trafficked for sexual exploitation. The complainant, who cannot be named, told the trial she was relocated from locations including Portarlington, Enniscorthy and Tralee, and kept a knife for protection following violent incidents with clients. She said she received instructions via phone and messaging apps from two women regarding services to be provided and payment collection, with no option to refuse work or relocation. Natalia Nogueira Da Silva, aged 32, of Drumlish, County Longford, has pleaded not guilty to human trafficking between March and May 2019, but guilty to organising prostitution, facilitating illegal entry to the State, and money laundering charges. Ivanilce Vailones Fidelis, aged 46, of Roscommon, denies all eighteen counts against her, including two counts of human trafficking and fourteen counts of money laundering. The prosecution alleges both defendants exploited vulnerable Brazilian women through debt bondage. The trial continues at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Two women have gone on trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on charges relating to the alleged trafficking of Brazilian nationals for sexual exploitation across rural Irish towns. Natalia Nogueira Da Silva, aged 32, of Drumlish, Co Longford, has pleaded not guilty to human trafficking but guilty to organising prostitution, facilitating illegal entry, and money laundering offences. Her co-accused, Ivanilce Vailones Fidelis, aged 46, of Roscommon, has pleaded not guilty to all charges against her, including two counts of human trafficking, organising prostitution, and money laundering. The prosecution alleges the two women trafficked vulnerable women between December 2018 and May 2019, moving them between towns including Portarlington, Thurles, and Tralee for sexual work. The State contends the women were controlled through debt bondage and threats. The trial, before Judge Patricia Ryan and a jury, is expected to last six weeks.
The State appealed the fully suspended 18‑month sentence imposed on Timmy O'Reilly, a 47‑year‑old "family man" from Kilkenny, for laundering over €120 000 while receiving social welfare. The Court of Appeal heard that O'Reilly had pleaded guilty to eight counts under the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010 and was charged with 32 offences relating to €125 000 found in an Irish Life account and two credit union accounts between 2011 and 2018. Judge Cormac Quinn had originally set a headline sentence of three years' imprisonment, reduced to 18 months before suspending it entirely. The State argued that a custodial term was necessary, citing O'Reilly's 15 prior convictions and a previous suspended sentence for assault. O'Reilly's counsel contended the money was inactive, not part of a larger scheme, and that the suspended sentence was within the judge's discretion. The court reserved judgment.
Patricia Kelly, 61, widow of the late Paul Kelly, former chief executive of the suicide‑prevention charity Console, has been given a trial date of 11 January 2024 by Justice Patricia Ryan at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. She faces two counts of fraudulent trading and one count of money laundering. The first fraudulent trading charge covers the period from 6 December 2006 to 31 May 2015, alleging that she knowingly participated in running Console Suicide Bereavement Counselling Ltd for a fraudulent purpose, misusing the company's property that was meant for its charitable objectives. The second fraudulent trading charge concerns 1 June 2015 to 14 July 2016, alleging the same wrongdoing. The money‑laundering charge covers 1 September 2010 to 1 July 2016, alleging that she concealed the true nature, source, location, disposition, movement or ownership of property of Console Ltd or acted recklessly about whether that property was the proceeds of criminal conduct.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, retired bus driver David Stamper, aged 68, was sentenced to a year in jail for a series of frauds and thefts that cost the Citybus Employees Credit Union over €100,000. Stamper, who joined the Credit Union in 1994 and became chair of its board in 2013, began misappropriating funds in 2009. He pleaded guilty to 10 counts of forgery, 41 counts of theft and 31 counts of money laundering between August 2009 and September 2015. The court found that he issued false cheques totalling €351,642, profiting €107,730. The judge noted the devastating impact on the Credit Union's members and the loss of trust, and imposed a custodial sentence of one year, suspended for 18 months on conditions. The Credit Union closed in 2019 following the fraud. The case highlighted the serious breach of trust and the financial damage caused to the members.
Mark Carty, 55, of The Mill Race, Chapelizod Village, pleaded guilty to several counts of theft and fraud involving €13,662 taken from various post offices and a Bank of Ireland ATM in January 2017. He also admitted fraudulently obtaining a Visa debit card in the name of Edward Glennon in April 2019 and using it to check Glennon's bank balance. The court heard that Glennon had been reimbursed for the €52,000 stolen, but the bank remained at a loss. Carty, who has 25 prior convictions, was arrested in August 2019 and denied knowledge of the thefts, claiming he was a recovering drug addict with a gambling problem. He was given a suspended two‑year sentence, with the judge citing his role as a caretaker for his terminally ill partner and their eight‑year‑old child. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.
Claire Butterly, a housekeeping manager at Carechoice Ltd's nursing home in Trim, was dismissed after refusing to stop providing laundry and cleaning services to residents of a nearby private housing unit for the elderly. The company claimed she breached its policy by engaging in private work, falsifying records and acting dishonestly. Butterly argued she was helping vulnerable residents, charging them no fee and receiving only small payments from a man named Mr X. The Workplace Relations Commission found her dismissal disproportionate and the disciplinary process flawed. The tribunal awarded her €12,000 in compensation, noting that her actions, while improper, did not amount to fraud or theft. The case highlights the tension between employee support for residents and employer policy compliance.
Two men were sentenced for laundering over €160,000 in a worldwide invoice‑redirection fraud investigation. Emanuele Cocco, 29, received a ten‑month sentence for possessing €17,923 as proceeds of crime in AIB, Bank of Ireland, Revolut accounts and cash. Daniel O'Carroll, 28, was given a fully‑suspended 16‑month sentence for holding just over €26,000 in various bank accounts. Cocco is already serving a two‑year drugs sentence and will be released in December 2023; O'Carroll has no prior convictions. The judge noted Cocco's lack of direct control over the Bank of Ireland account and that the phone number linked to it was changed to O'Carroll's. Garda investigations revealed fraudulent international payments from Germany, Belgium and Denmark, and the court heard that the money had been withdrawn before it could be recalled. Both men pleaded guilty to possessing proceeds of crime in specific accounts during 2019 and 2020.
Michael Small, 55, of Renville, Oranmore, Co Galway, admitted to deception at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He pleaded guilty to dishonestly inducing a woman to issue loan funds at Permanent TSB on 2 September 2008, with the intention of making a gain for himself or another. The plea was entered on a non‑prejudice basis. Judge Martina Baxter set a sentence date for 27 March 2023, when all evidence will be heard, and remanded Small on continuing bail until that date.
A high‑ranking member of a West African organised crime gang, Junior Boboye, aged 28, was sentenced to six years in prison, with the final year suspended, for his role in an €800,000 money‑laundering and fraud operation. The operation involved the theft of €792,000 from eight businesses through invoice‑redirect fraud, of which €319,000 was recovered. Boboye pleaded guilty to multiple offences for the benefit of a criminal organisation between August 2017 and May 2018, and to 13 counts of money laundering and using false instruments. He was described by the judge as an active lieutenant and recruiting sergeant within the gang. The case also involved other defendants: Emmanuel Olanyian, who received a four‑year sentence with the final year suspended; Taiwo Ajike, who received a suspended one‑year sentence; and Onyebuchi Aduba, who was dealt with under the Probation Act and will not receive a conviction.
A Longford accountant pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to filing false tax returns for five clients between July 2016 and August 2019. Robert Browne, aged 53, of Treanlawn, Killoe, admitted using his former employer's Audit Registration Number without permission to conceal late filings. The court heard that Browne had taken on excessive work after establishing his own practice and, rather than disclose delays, unlawfully used the ARN to mask non-compliance. The deception caused financial harm to the affected companies, including credit downgrades and strikeouts, and necessitated re-auditing. Judge Pauline Codd noted the serious breach of trust involved, though acknowledged no personal financial gain and Browne's genuine remorse. She imposed a two-year suspended sentence conditional on recompense to two remaining clients within six months. Browne has already reimbursed three clients and faces professional strike-off.
Gheorghe Gherge, 35, of Drumcondra, pleaded guilty to two counts of using a false instrument and two counts of money laundering for activities between June 2016 and April 2019. He opened 17 bank accounts under eight false names, receiving about €570,000 from criminal activity and laundering a total of €670,000. The accounts were linked to a fraud scheme selling farm equipment, where victims paid €11,700 for a tractor that was never delivered. Gherge had two prior UK convictions for similar offences and was extradited in 2021. Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced him to six and a half years' imprisonment, with the final three years suspended on the condition of good behaviour for seven years and a prohibition on returning to Ireland for seven years. He was also ordered to leave Ireland upon release. The judge noted his role was limited to opening accounts and making withdrawals, but his actions facilitated the frauds.
Chelsea Dooley, a 23‑year‑old childcare worker from Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty to two counts of possession of the proceeds of criminal crime after her bank account was used to launder nearly €25,000 stolen from an AIB account. Gardaí were alerted on 5 January 2021 when a man reported money missing from his account. Between 21 December 2020 and 4 January 2021, nine transactions totalling €24,900 were taken, with €23,899 transferred to Dooley's account and €1 to another account. The theft was linked to a smishing fraud. Dooley was arrested, interviewed, and admitted she had lost her bank card; CCTV showed an unknown male using it. Her defence argued she did not profit and had no prior convictions. The court accepted her guilty plea, noted her good character, and ordered a probation report before sentencing on 31 March 2023.
In a High Court case at the charge_or_pretrial stage, Mr Justice Brian Cregan ruled on claims brought by applicant Marie Gibson against her daughter Pauline Gibson, solicitor Kevin O'Gorman, and receiver Paul McCleary. The judge found that Pauline Gibson defrauded her parents of their family home in 2003, a transfer that was set aside due to fraud and undue influence. Although Pauline Gibson did not participate in the proceedings, the court accepted Marie Gibson's evidence over that of Mr O'Gorman, who was found to have acted with gross negligence but was not accused of fraud. The judge described the situation as a "lamentable tale," noting that the elderly widow discovered the fraud only after her husband's death in 2017. While the judge set aside the 2003 transfer, he did not conclude the litigation. Instead, after handing down his judgement, Mr Justice Cregan adjourned the matter to a date in January. Several issues remain outstanding, including the quantification of damages to which the plaintiff is entitled. The court noted that Marie Gibson has since disinherited Pauline Gibson in a new will, and the family has been unable to contact her since the discovery of the fraud.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Gheorghe Gherge, aged 35, pleaded guilty to two counts of using a false instrument and two counts of money laundering for an organised crime group. Between June 2016 and April 2019, he opened 17 bank accounts under eight different names using fake IDs. The accounts received about €570,000 from criminal activity, including proceeds from a fraudulent farm‑equipment website that sold a tractor for €11,700 that was never delivered. In total, €670,000 was laundered through these accounts, with evidence of multiple withdrawals. Gherge had two prior UK convictions for similar offences and was extradited in 2021 after serving a sentence. He claims he was not personally enriched and was merely following instructions. The judge adjourned the case for finalisation on 19 December.
Kathleen McDonagh, 21, received a suspended three‑year prison sentence for money laundering. She owned €23,715 of luxury goods – two Chanel handbags, Louis Vuitton bags, belts, shoes, Christian Louboutin shoes and two diamond rings – and a high‑end car bought with €25,750 cash in July 2019. Gardaí seized the vehicle and the goods when they searched her home in January 2020. Between March 2018 and December 2019, deposits totalling €98,828.88 were made into her AIB, post office and credit union accounts. McDonagh pleaded guilty to three counts of money laundering between March 2019 and January 2020, with two further charges considered. She had no prior convictions and was aged 17 to 19 during the period covered by the charges. The court noted that the money and goods were most likely proceeds of burglaries and thefts committed by a former partner, who is now in Scotland under a European Arrest Warrant.
In a High Court hearing on 7 December 2022, the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) sought to have 111 cars seized from Stephen Bawn Motors Ltd and €20,000 in a linked bank account declared proceeds of crime under the 1996 Proceeds of Crime Act. The cars, sold at auction for €820,000, were bought by the dealership, which began trading about seven years earlier, with money allegedly derived from illegal drug dealing. CAB alleged that the dealership was used by individuals with links to local, national and international criminals, including Christy Keane and the Kinahan gang, to launder drug proceeds and that the owner, Mr Mike Nash, was involved in drug importation and sale. The company and Mr Nash denied the claims. CAB also cited VAT fraud and other illegal activities. The case is pending before Mr Justice Alexander Owens.
Gerard Mackin, aged 40 and resident of Rhebogue Road, Limerick, appeared before the Special Criminal Court on a late sitting after being extradited from Spain. He faces a single charge of money‑laundering for €4,780, alleged to be proceeds of criminal activity, at his Limerick address on 17 April 2019, in breach of Section 7 of the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. Detective Garda Stephen Ahern informed the court that Mackin was arrested at Dublin Airport at 2.47 p.m. after a European Arrest Warrant issued on 7 April. The court granted a certificate to try Mackin at the non‑jury court. Alison Fynes BL, representing Mackin, declined to apply for a hearing at this time, requesting remand in Portlaoise Prison and free legal aid, and that the defendant seek the earliest possible court date. Mr Justice Michael MacGrath remanded Mackin in custody until 23 January, when his case will be listed for mention.
Joyce Sulambi, aged 24, pleaded guilty on 15 April 2019 to handling €49,724 of stolen cash after an invoice of almost €50,000 was diverted into his own AIB account. The fraud involved a fake email from ENTS Transport Ltd, leading Reynolds Logistics to pay the invoice into Sulambi's account. Gardaí traced the money to transfers to accounts in Germany and the UK, and a warrant was obtained to search his house in June 2020, finding no electronic devices typically used in money‑laundering. Sulambi admitted the role, describing it as a "bank job, invoice fraud," and claimed he was paid about €3,000. He was sentenced by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to a two‑year suspended term. He must pay an additional €2,500 to Reynolds Logistics within a few months.
John Balidoy, a 22‑year‑old art student, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering in the State, with other counts considered. The offence took place between March and May 2021. Balidoy had no prior convictions. He was persuaded by a colleague to transfer money to the colleague's accounts after the colleague threatened him and his family. The money was used to defraud two women, stealing €18,000 and €14,000, and to obtain fraudulent Covid‑PUP payments in fake names. About €27,000 remains unaccounted for. Balidoy's accounts were controlled by others, and he was threatened. He received an 18‑month suspended sentence, with conditions, after the court accepted that he had no financial benefit, was psychologically vulnerable and had been threatened. The court noted that he had no custodial sentence because of his promising future and supportive family. The victims were fully reimbursed.
Christy Keogh, aged 70, was sentenced to three years in prison for social welfare fraud, with the final 12 months suspended. He pleaded guilty to 23 counts of stealing €185,622.48 in job seeker's and disability allowances between December 1996 and July 2018. Keogh claimed he was providing for his family and considered the crime victimless, a view noted by the Probation Service report. He had no prior convictions and had paid back only about €600 from his State pension, after which deductions stopped and were not reinstated. The judge highlighted the pre‑meditated, repetitive nature of the offences and the lack of insight into the impact on the exchequer. Keogh was arrested in July 2020 following a Garda investigation that uncovered the fraudulent claims while he was employed full‑time by a bus company. The case was prosecuted by Michael Hourigan BL, with defence counsel Luigi Rea BL acknowledging the client's circumstances and health issues.
Denis Maguire, 65, former head of finance and company secretary at Our Lady's Hospice (OLH), pleaded guilty to deception for selling a Spanish property, Aloha Lake Village, Marbella West, at €37,500 in March 2015, far below its €240,000 market value. Maguire, who had no prior convictions, managed OLH's inherited properties and secured a resolution allowing him to dispose of the Spanish asset. He accepted a third‑party offer within 24 hours, without due diligence, and arranged the sale to Sun Orange Property LLC, a New York‑registered shell company. OLH suffered a loss of over €28,000 after liabilities were deducted. The scheme was uncovered following an HSE audit in September 2015. In November 2022, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Maguire to 27 months' imprisonment, back‑dated to 17 October, citing the devious nature of the crime and the breach of trust he had owed to OLH.
Lateef Tiamiyu, 38, of Dublin, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to multiple charges related to fraud and false instruments. The defendant admitted to possession of a machine designed for making a false instrument, inducing another to open a bank account in a false name, possession of 17 magnetic strips intended for making false instruments, and two counts of possessing false instruments at his home on May 28, 2021. Prosecution evidence indicated that gardaí searched the residence after Tiamiyu was identified as attempting to open a bank account using a false passport and utility bill. During the search, officers discovered the card-cloning machine, magnetic strips, and six false passports, each bearing a different photograph. While defense counsel argued that there was no evidence the items were used for fraudulent activity, Judge Martin Nolan inferred that the possession of such equipment was solely for the purpose of engaging in profitable criminality. The judge acknowledged Tiamiyu's co-operation, admissions, lack of previous convictions, and family responsibilities, including supporting children in Ireland and Nigeria. However, he stated that Tiamiyu must suffer a term of imprisonment despite his very good mitigation. The sentence was handed down as the final disposition of the case.
An Irish man, John O'Connor, 40, from Carrick-on-Suir, Co Tipperary, was jailed in Sweden for a €4.7 million income‑tax fraud. He and three brothers—Edward (27), Mark (30) and James (28)—were convicted of tax and VAT fraud, money laundering and three counts of gross accounting offences in Stockholm in March last year. Each brother received a sentence of three years and eight months, upheld by the Swedish Court of Appeal in July 2021. O'Connor absconded to Ireland in July 2022 while on temporary release, having served 647 days of his sentence. He was arrested under a Schengen Information Service notice on 3 September 2022. The High Court heard that he had failed to pay over €64 000 in VAT invoices and that the fraud involved disguising substantial money in company accounts and sending incorrect invoices to customers.
The High Court has ruled that 14 luxury watches valued at €152,000, €22,000 in cash, and a mobile home are proceeds of crime. Mr Justice Alexander Owens made the order under the 1996 Proceeds of Crime Act regarding assets seized by the Criminal Assets Bureau from Jason Reed, Thomas Rooney, and Catherine Dawson. The applications were unopposed. The assets were seized following a Garda investigation into an international gang involved in illegal drugs and firearms trafficking. The three individuals were previously convicted of laundering over €400,000 for a criminal organisation after being observed exchanging large sums of cash in Drogheda in May 2020. Last year, Jason Reed, from Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, was sentenced to seven years' imprisonment by the Special Criminal Court for money laundering offences. Thomas Rooney, of Bettystown, Co Meath, received a six-year sentence for the same offences. Catherine Dawson, a former partner of Rooney's, received a fully suspended sentence of three years and nine months after pleading guilty to money laundering offences. The court appointed a receiver to sell the non-cash assets, noting that the respondents' financial profiles did not account for the legitimate acquisition of the property.
Ian Coughlan, 46, a former Irish Defence Forces member, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four money‑laundering charges involving €159,250 in Allied Irish Bank and Bank of Ireland accounts between June and October 2016. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to a three‑year prison term, fully suspended on strict conditions, citing the case's exceptional features. Coughlan had been approached by third parties at his gym offering financial incentives for his bank details, which he never received. He admitted to being contacted by Nigerian men and a French plastics company, who sought to use his accounts for fraudulent transfers. Gardaí had secured a warrant and arrested him on 17 May 2017 after discovering fraudulent payments. Coughlan had no prior convictions and had brought €12,000 to court as an expression of remorse. The judge ordered the money to be split between the two companies and paid within 30 days.
GAA star David Fitzgerald raised questions before the Deputy Master of the High Court regarding the alleged sale of his ACC Bank loan to a 'vulture fund'. The proceedings were brought by Pepper Finance and receiver James Anderson against Fitzgerald, the Waterford Senior Hurling Manager, seeking possession of a house in Co Clare. Fitzgerald opposes the application, arguing that Pepper may not own the loan and that he has received insufficient information about the purported transfer to entities named Newgrange Acquisition DAC and Otterham. His counsel, Ronnie Hudson, also challenged the proportionality of the receivers' fees, noting that a Deloitte chartered accountant was appointed for a single property. Fitzgerald claims he wishes to redeem the mortgage of over €200,000 but is blocked by a disputed €25,000 interest surcharge. The Deputy Master, Mr John Glennon, stated that these issues are for a High Court judge to determine. He indicated an intention to list the case before a judge but granted an adjournment to allow Fitzgerald to swear an affidavit in reply to the applicant's claim. The matter was adjourned and will return before the Deputy Master later this month. Fitzgerald also linked these proceedings to separate claims against former ACC Bank official Jarlath Mitchell and ACC Bank, alleging fraud involving false mortgage documentation in Portugal.
A former solicitor from Claremorris, County Mayo, has been sentenced to 18 months imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for stealing over €200,000 from four client families. David Doyle, aged 68, pleaded guilty to nine charges of theft totalling €218,579 committed between December 2008 and November 2016. Judge Martin Nolan heard that Doyle had misappropriated funds through a method known as "teeming and lading," transferring money between accounts to conceal the offences whilst addressing his personal debts. The court noted that Doyle eventually self-reported the fraud to his senior partner in October 2017 after 38 years of practice. He was subsequently struck off the register by the Law Society. Judge Nolan acknowledged that Doyle had sold his family home to repay clients in full and expressed remorse for breaching the trust of his clients and profession. Doyle cooperated with gardaí following his arrest in December 2020 and has no previous convictions.