Dylan Culloty, 21, was sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 200 hours of community service in lieu of a two‑year prison term for his role in a €40,000 smishing scam. Culloty allowed his account to be used to launder the money and withdrew cash from post offices, purchasing foreign currency. He pleaded guilty to two counts of money laundering for transactions between 14 and 19 August 2019. The court noted that the scam involved text messages that appeared to be from a bank, directing victims to a website where they entered banking details, enabling the scammers to access accounts. A total of €43,800 was taken from two bank accounts and transferred to Culloty's account; he withdrew the money at An Post offices. The Bank of Ireland refunded the victims in full, but the money was never recovered. Culloty had no prior convictions.
A former Irish rugby international, Brendan Mullin, 58, has been scheduled for a trial on May 7, 2024, after appearing before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on a new mention date. Mullin faces nine theft charges, five false accounting charges and one deception charge, all linked to Bank of Ireland between July 2011 and March 2013. He was remanded on continuing bail. Mullin, who earned 55 caps for Ireland from 1984 to 1995 and played in three Rugby World Cups, is represented by Brendan Grehan SC.
Sean McCarthy, aged in his 60s, lost over €26,000 when a fraudulent email replaced a legitimate invoice from Lauragh Construction, leading him to transfer money to a scammer's account. The fraud involved two young men, Jack Ward (22) and Kelvin Kleinovis (21), who acted as money mules. Ward transferred €9,700 to his account and €9,600 to a third man, while Kleinovis received €26,400 and later transferred €9,700 to Ward. Gardaí traced the transactions, and the bank returned €16,580, leaving McCarthy still short €9,820. McCarthy expressed that the loss delayed his holiday‑home project and that he and his wife no longer trust electronic transfers. Ward was sentenced to an eight‑month prison term, suspended, and Kleinovis received a two‑year term, also suspended, after expressing remorse and attempting restitution. The court noted that neither man was suspected of setting up the bogus email. Jack Ward pleaded guilty. Kelvin Kleinovis pleaded guilty.
Michael McGauley, aged 49 and formerly of Highfield, Carrickmacross, has had his prison sentence increased following a successful appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions. McGauley pleaded guilty at Monaghan Circuit Criminal Court to five counts of deception and theft committed between February 2016 and October 2018, defrauding victims of approximately €149,600 in total. He was initially sentenced to three years' imprisonment with sentences running concurrently. The Court of Appeal, presiding over the case on 7 February 2022, found the original sentence unduly lenient and quashed it. Mr Justice Patrick McCarthy, sitting with Ms Justice Isobel Kennedy and Ms Justice Úna Ní Raifeartaigh, increased the sentence to five years' imprisonment, with sentences to run consecutively. The court noted the manner in which offences were perpetrated caused particular harm to victims. McGauley was ordered to surrender himself to prison authorities on 16 February 2022.
A man convicted of his role in a rental deposit scam affecting six potential tenants in Dublin has been ordered to complete community service rather than face imprisonment. Robert Long, with an address in Carndonagh, County Donegal, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to six counts of theft and two counts of deception relating to offences committed between July and August 2017. The scheme involved advertising a Dublin apartment on Daft.ie under false pretences, with victims paying deposits after meeting a man using a false name. Long acted as the sitting tenant during viewings, though gardaí established he was not the primary instigator and did not financially benefit. The court heard nearly €11,000 was obtained from the victims. Judge Melanie Greally imposed 240 hours of community service to be completed within eighteen months, in lieu of a two-year custodial sentence. Long had brought €10,700 to court for victim compensation, with one outstanding payment expected within three months or to be redirected to a homeless charity.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal hearing, 21‑year‑old Kathleen McDonagh pleaded guilty to three counts of money laundering for the period March 2019 to January 2020. Gardaí seized €23,715 worth of luxury goods, a high‑end car bought for €25,750 in cash, and discovered deposits totalling €98,828.88 in her AIB, post office and credit union accounts between March 2018 and December 2019. McDonagh's only income at the time was her lone parent's allowance. She was not the target of the original investigation and had no prior convictions. The court considered her a direct beneficiary of the illicit proceeds but not the perpetrator of the primary offences. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to 4 May to allow a Probation Service assessment, and McDonagh was remanded on bail until that date. The case highlighted her possession of unexplained assets linked to a partner serving a burglary sentence and a European Arrest Warrant.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Suzanne Danker, 48, was found guilty of deception and theft for ruining a young couple's wedding in Spain in September 2012. Danker's company, Spanish Dream Weddings, had run out of money in September 2012, yet she continued to ask the couple, Sarah Foran and Colm Moriarty, for payments. The couple had paid about €10,000 for the event, but none of the contractors—florist, DJ, videographer, singer, flamenco troupe, and church fees—were paid. Danker's chaotic management and failure to communicate left the couple in debt and emotionally distressed. She received a suspended three‑year prison sentence, with a €9,500 payment to the victims and an additional €5,000 to be paid within two years. The court noted her remorse and unlikely re‑offending.
Lihlumelo Kanuka, 21, pleaded guilty to money laundering at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for using her bank details in an invoice‑redirection fraud that transferred €51,399 into her AIB account and then to other accounts. She claimed she was in a short‑lived coercive relationship with the third party who pressured her to continue the scheme after she discovered its nature. Kanuka attempted to cancel her bank cards but feared the man, who allegedly screamed at her. The judge, Melanie Greally, noted her vulnerability, the recklessness of her actions, and her remorse, and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence. Kanuka had no prior convictions and was assessed as low risk of reoffending. The case highlighted the impact of coercive relationships on young people's legal outcomes.
Albert Redmond, 45, was sentenced to 12‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment with four‑and‑a‑half years suspended for a spree of burglaries, criminal damage, credit‑card fraud and theft between October 2019 and March 2020. He appealed, arguing the judge had mis‑classified the severity of his offences and had not given enough weight to his personal circumstances. The Court of Appeal quashed the original sentence but upheld the appeal, ruling that Redmond must still serve eight years in prison. In a written judgment, Mr Justice John Edwards explained that the original sentence was structured with a mixture of consecutive and concurrent terms totalling nine years, with the final year suspended for 12 months. The judge noted Redmond's "appalling track record" and the risk of re‑offending, and acknowledged his expressed intention to move away from crime. The decision left Redmond's custodial term unchanged at eight years, with the suspended portion remaining in place. Albert Redmond pleaded guilty.
A former Revenue employee received a fully suspended eighteen-month sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for her role in generating fraudulent tax refunds. Linda Kinsella, aged 38, pleaded guilty to two counts of dishonestly inducing a gain by deception and one count of using a false instrument at Revenue offices on Belgard Road, Dublin 24, between December 2013 and June 2015. She created false tax returns totalling over €8,000 for her ex-boyfriend Eric Maher and his twin brother Brian Maher. Both men also received suspended eighteen-month sentences after pleading guilty to stealing from the Revenue Commission. Eric Maher obtained €1,921.95 while Brian Maher, with an address in Charlestown Shopping Centre, Finglas, obtained €6,121.45. Judge Martin Nolan noted Kinsella was the "vital cog" in the scheme, though the brothers had imposed upon her to some degree. All three accused have since repaid the money in full. Kinsella lost her job following the investigation.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court sentenced Ethan Zeitman and Levani Shavgulidze to two years' imprisonment each after both pleaded guilty to charges related to an immigration fraud organisation. Zeitman, 46, admitted to money laundering, possession of fraudulent documentation, and organising or facilitating the entry of illegal immigrants or asylum seekers between 2017 and 2019. Shavgulidze, 24, pleaded guilty to stealing €5,950 in pandemic unemployment payments, money laundering, possession of fraudulent documentation, and facilitating illegal entry between 2018 and 2020. Judge Martin Nolan described the men as "gofers" at the bottom of a hierarchy that caused a surge in Georgian nationals arriving in Ireland. The judge noted Zeitman's involvement ended over a year before his arrest when he became drug-free, while Shavgulidze had no previous convictions. Both men have been in custody since late 2020. The court heard the investigation began in 2018 following international referrals, with the accused distributing false documents via post or courier. Defence counsel highlighted Zeitman's addiction-driven involvement and Shavgulidze's lack of profit, but the judge imposed the two-year sentences, considering their foreign national status and roles in the organisation.
A Chinese national who lived under an assumed identity for eight years has received a fully suspended four-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Wenzi Wang, aged 39, of Blanchardstown, Dublin, obtained a legitimate Northern Irish birth certificate belonging to another person in 2009 and used it to secure an Irish passport under the name Sau Kee Lee. He subsequently acquired a driving licence, taxi licence, Public Service Card and mortgage using the false identity. Wang pleaded guilty to providing a false birth certificate in connection with a passport application at a Garda station in County Donegal in May 2009, and to six counts of deception between October 2010 and April 2017. He also pleaded guilty to two counts of providing false information to a registrar and to possessing an air rifle and garda-style apparel. Judge Pauline Codd noted Wang had paid taxes and committed no offences whilst using the false name. His wife remained unaware of his true identity until 2017. The judge imposed strict conditions on the suspended sentence.
Alexander Cribbin, 21, of Woodford Downs, Clondalkin, was discharged from an indictment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after abiding by the conditions of a deferred sentence. Cribbin pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct within the state on November 1, 2019. The court heard that a doctor narrowly avoided losing €18,000 in pension funds in an email misdirection scam. The doctor mistakenly believed he was replying to his pension broker but was actually communicating with a third party who provided Cribbin's bank details. Cribbin had lent his bank account to a friend for "trading" but became suspicious when the large lodgement arrived. He did not use the funds, allowing the bank to successfully recall the money and return it to the victim. Judge Martin Nolan previously noted that Cribbin's actions meant the money "could never have been taken from the account" and granted him leniency. The judge imposed a deferred sentence, requiring Cribbin to be of good behaviour for six months, with a proposed disposal of six months' imprisonment if he failed to abide by that condition. At the final hearing, the court confirmed Cribbin had met these conditions, and Judge Nolan discharged him from the indictment.
At the Special Criminal Court, Dermot McManus and co-accused Terese Halpin faced trial-stage proceedings regarding alleged money laundering and vehicle offences. McManus is charged with handling €28,550 and £17,240, knowing or being reckless as to whether they were proceeds of criminal conduct on 17 June 2020, and allowing a Limerick and District Credit Union account to be used for such purposes. He is further accused of possessing a stolen blue Ford Transit van and handling a white Mercedes Sprinter. Halpin is charged with possessing the same cash sums and allowing a Permanent TSB account to be used for handling proceeds of crime between January 2019 and June 2020. Prosecution counsel alleged the cash was found in socks and a jacket pocket during a search at Keating Park, Killalee, part of Operation Coronation. Defence counsel argued McManus was not a flight risk, citing family ties and a personal injury payment explanation for bank lodgements. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt granted bail to McManus, contingent on a €10,000 surety from a legitimate person, daily sign-on at a Limerick garda station, and non-association with named persons. The judge remanded McManus in custody with consent to bail and adjourned the matter with liberty to re-enter for surety approval. Halpin, who had previously entered a bond and surrendered her passport, was scheduled to appear again on 18 February.
Two young men, Joel Kialunda, 20, and Emmanuel Esuku, 23, were sentenced by the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to fully suspended one‑year imprisonment for laundering money defrauded from a Swedish trade union. The fraud involved fraudulent emails claiming that three ventilators would be purchased for donation to a hospital for Covid‑19 treatment. The union transferred €27,594.63 into an account provided in the email, which was later found to belong to Kialunda. Over €23,000 was withdrawn or transferred elsewhere, including €3,000 sent to a Revolut account belonging to Esuku. Both men pleaded guilty to money laundering on 22 and 23 April 2020, respectively. Judge Martin Nolan, citing their age and mitigation, suspended the sentences in their entirety on strict conditions. The court noted that neither accused had been involved in the initial defrauding of the union and that the money had been recovered and returned to the union.
A man and a woman were brought before the Special Criminal Court on charges of money laundering, a development the Gardaí described as significant in their ongoing operation against organised crime in County Limerick. Dermot McManus, aged 51, and Terese Halpin, aged 49, were arrested at their home in Keating Park, Killalee, after Gardaí executed a warrant. McManus faces charges for handling €28,550 and £17,240 in cash, allegedly proceeds of criminal conduct on 17 June 2020, and for using a Limerick and District Credit Union account for those proceeds. He is also charged with possession of a stolen Ford Transit van and a Mercedes Sprinter during specified periods. Halpin is charged with possession of the same cash sums on 17 June 2020 and for allowing a Permanent TSB account to be used for handling proceeds of crime between 17 January 2019 and 10 June 2020.
Hani Ali Showky and Nicolina Velic, a married couple from Dun Laoghaire, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to running brothels, organising prostitution, money laundering, and using false instruments in Co Dublin. The court heard the pair operated nine properties with 25 escorts, generating an estimated €5,000 weekly profit. Showky admitted to renting properties using fake bank statements and subletting them to escorts, while also establishing a company to facilitate a money laundering scheme. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced Showky to five years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions. She noted his 31 previous convictions but considered his early guilty plea and personal circumstances. Velic, who had no prior convictions, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment, with the sentence suspended in its entirety on strict conditions. The judge acknowledged Velic was less actively involved and under Showky's influence, citing her role as a sole carer for a young child. Both defendants admitted the charges, and the court noted that the escorts were not coerced or trafficked, nor were they illegal immigrants. The matter was finalised with these sentences imposed.
Michael Keogh, a 40‑year‑old resident of Harelawn Crescent, Clondalkin, was found by Gardaí holding nearly €100,000 in cash that had been seized during a search on 2 December 2020. The cash was discovered in four bundles in the master bedroom drawer, a sealed vacuum pack in another bedroom wardrobe, and a small amount of cannabis in the kitchen boiler press. Keogh told the Gardaí he was holding the money for an unidentified third party, later claiming it was to pay a drug debt, but he did not mention this during his arrest interview. He pleaded guilty to laundering money under the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act 2010. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin sentenced him to 180 hours of community service instead of an 18‑month custodial term, noting his cooperation, drug‑free urine tests, and that his five prior convictions were for traffic offences and a casual trading act.
William Kiely, a 49‑year‑old former Director of Corporate Finance at Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland, was charged in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court with 15 counts of alleged property fraud under the Criminal Justice Theft and Fraud Offences Act. The alleged offences involved investors who wanted to invest in U.S. property between August 2008 and February 2013, with claims of losses ranging from €50,000 to €120,000 each and a total estimated defrauded amount of €750,000 to €1 million. Gardai began investigating in 2012, but Kiely was not charged until July 2019. He sought a judicial review to halt the proceedings, arguing that the delay breached his right to a fair trial. In March, High Court Justice Miriam O'Regan rejected the application. Kiely appealed to the Court of Appeal, where Justice George Birmingham dismissed the application today, stating a written judgment would follow.
Thomas Rooney (52), of Betaghstown, Co Meath, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to three charges under Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing) Act 2010. He admitted possessing €289,770 and £65,025 in a blue Nike holdall, €254,840 in a black holdall, and €7,650 at North Road, Drogheda, all on May 11, 2020. The court heard allegations that Rooney, described as a "mid-to-high" level member of an international crime gang, organised the transaction and used an encrypted Aquarius phone. Jason Reed (40), of Dunshaughlin, also pleaded guilty to possessing the cash in the blue Nike bag and to holding €32,330 and £441 at his home. In a related May finalisation, Catherine Dawson (44), Rooney's then-partner, received a fully suspended sentence of three years and nine months for moving the gang's money, suspended on good behaviour for five years. Mr Justice Tony Hunt stated he could not see a non-custodial sentence for Rooney. Despite no Garda objection to bail, Rooney was remanded in custody until January 14 for sentencing. The matter was adjourned to that date.
William Kiely, a former Director of Corporate Finance at Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland, is appealing a High Court decision that allowed criminal proceedings to proceed against him for alleged theft and fraud offences. The case involves 15 counts under the Criminal Justice Theft and Fraud Offences Act, alleged to have occurred between August 2008 and February 2013, involving investors who claimed losses between €50,000 and €120,000 each, with a total alleged defrauded amount ranging from €750,000 to €1.2 million. Kiely, aged 49, was charged in July 2019 after an investigation that began in 2012. He argued that the delay in prosecution breached his right to a fair trial and sought a judicial review, which was rejected by Ms Justice Miriam O'Regan in March. He is now appealing that decision to the Court of Appeal, where his lawyers contend the delay was so great that prohibition of the proceedings is warranted.
An apprentice electrician, Mohammad Jelan, aged 23, pleaded guilty to money laundering at a location within the state on 24 April 2018. He had allowed his bank account to be used by a third‑party who sent the details to a construction company that claimed to be a subcontractor whose email had been hacked. The company transferred €28,290 into Jelan's account, but he never accessed the money and was promised €500 for the use of his account, which he did not receive. Jelan had two prior convictions for road traffic offences. Judge Pauline Codd sentenced him to 12 months imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, and noted he was at the very bottom rung of culpability and had made a foolish mistake. The court heard that Jelan had not been in contact with Gardaí since the offence and had answered all questions in detail. The case was prosecuted by Diana Stuart BL and defended by David O'Brien BL.
Sean William O'Rourke, a 21‑year‑old apprentice electrician, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering after he answered a Snapchat advert that promised a few thousand euros for handing over his bank card. The advert was part of a scheme that led to a fraudulent €52,186 payment being sent to the wrong account. Gardaí traced the money to O'Rourke's account, which was frozen, and he was found to have used his phone's tap function to access the account. He did not profit from the operation, and the €50,000 was returned to the company. In Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Martin Nolan imposed 100 hours of community service in lieu of a 20‑month jail sentence, pending suitability assessment by the Probation Service. The case was adjourned to March 1 to confirm the sentence. The court noted the prevalence of similar cases involving young people with no prior convictions.
Anthony Byrne, aged 40, was remanded on bail pending sentencing for a rental scam that cost victims €12,000. Byrne, who worked as a contractor, advertised a property on daft.ie under the fictitious name Stephen Cummings and used a doctored lease agreement from a real letting agency. He persuaded at least four women to pay €3,000 each in cash for rent and deposit, claiming it secured the property. Gardaí discovered the fraud after a victim reported the scheme; a search of Byrne's home uncovered the forged contract and other evidence linking him to the false persona. Byrne pleaded guilty to four charges of deception and false instrument use at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has no prior convictions, has resigned from his job, and has expressed remorse. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him on continuing bail, adjourned the case to 28 February, and ordered a probation report, noting the victims' financial and psychological harm.
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Judge Martin Nolan addressed the case of Dylan Culloty, a 21‑year‑old from Clondalkin, who pleaded guilty to two counts of money laundering involving over €40,000 obtained through a 2019 "smishing" scam. Culloty's account was used to transfer stolen funds, which he withdrew by visiting post offices and purchasing foreign currency. The court noted that the scam enticed victims to provide banking details via a fraudulent website, resulting in €43,800 being taken from two bank accounts and moved to Culloty's account. The Bank of Ireland's financial crime unit reported the unauthorized transactions, and the bank refunded the victims, but the money was never recovered. Judge Nolan, citing the prevalence of such cases, decided not to imprison Culloty but to impose 200 hours of community service, pending Probation Service assessment.
A serial fraudster from Carrickmacross is the subject of an appeal by the Director of Public Prosecutions against the leniency of his sentence. Michael McGauley pleaded guilty in October 2020 at Monaghan Circuit Criminal Court to five counts of deception and theft committed between February 2016 and October 2018, obtaining approximately €149,600 from his victims. He was sentenced to three years and nine months imprisonment on each count, with sentences ordered to run concurrently and the final nine months suspended on condition of probation supervision and abstinence from gambling and alcohol. The DPP contends the sentence was unduly lenient, arguing that consecutive rather than concurrent sentences should have been imposed. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court of Appeal, Ms Justice Una Ní Raifeartaigh noted the deliberate emotional manipulation involved in the offences, questioning the connection between McGauley's gambling addiction and his deceptive conduct toward victims. The case was adjourned pending the court's determination on the appeal.
Ian Coughlan, 45, of Newcastle Manor Close, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four charges of possessing €159,250, believing or being reckless about whether it was the proceeds of crime, in relation to Allied Irish Bank and Bank of Ireland accounts used in an international invoice redirection fraud between June and October 2016. Gardaí investigated a fraudulent payment of €39,251 received into his AIB account from a Turkish aviation company that had been instructed to change supplier bank details; the money was never received. A warrant was obtained and Coughlan was arrested on 17 May 2017. Further evidence showed a French plastics company transferred €120,000 into his Bank of Ireland account after being directed to amend supplier details. Coughlan claimed he was approached by Nigerian men offering a 10% share of the cash, but he never received this cut.
Nadine Stolk, a swim instructor living in the UK, was given a one‑year suspended sentence for her role in child benefit fraud. She discovered that her husband, Leendert Stolk, had been defrauding the State of child benefit payments from 2017 to 2018, and she did nothing to stop it. Stolk pleaded guilty on the first day of her trial to two counts of social welfare fraud relating to child benefit payments between 31 July 2017 and 31 June 2018, resulting in a total loss to the State of €1,540. She has no prior convictions and a good work history. The judge noted her employment as a swim instructor and that one of their sons competes internationally. The sentence was suspended on a number of conditions.
Rebecca Mukoko, a 21‑year‑old nursing student from Whitechurch Heights, Ballyboden, Dublin, pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering for acting as a money mule in a fraud that cost an international energy company €6,541. She supplied her bank card, PIN and online banking details to a "friend of a friend," who used her account to defraud the company. Mukoko received no financial reward and said she was pressured into the act. Judge Martin Nolan accepted that she made a bad judgment error and, recognising her good future prospects, ordered a €400 fine and a one‑year period of good behaviour. If she remains out of trouble for that year, the judge will discharge her from the indictment, avoiding a criminal conviction. The court noted that other young people in similar cases may face custodial sentences. The case involved a Kuwaiti energy company that unknowingly transferred the money to Mukoko's account after a hacked email exchange.
Gareth White, 33, was jailed for two-and-a-half years after defrauding a woman and the Society of St Vincent de Paul of over €20,000 by claiming the money was needed for urgent medical expenses. White had previously failed to repay a €10,000 cheque to the woman, which bounced and was recovered by the bank. He pleaded guilty to deception charges against both victims in October and November 2020. The court found that the money was actually used to pay gambling debts, and that White's gambling addiction had spiraled beyond his control. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three-and-a-half years, suspending the final 12 months on strict conditions, including a five‑year ban on gambling. White admitted the charity's funds were misused and that he had no legitimate medical need for the money. The case highlighted the extent of White's financial fraud and his ongoing gambling problem.
Elvis Chiriac, aged 35, was sentenced to two years in prison, with the final six months suspended, after pleading guilty to 15 counts of theft at AIB ATMs and banks in Dublin between 8 and 10 January 2020. He used a rented GoCar and a "Transaction Reversal Fraud" technique to withdraw €8,520 from 22 ATMs over three days, damaging several machines. Gardaí traced his movements using the GoCar's GPS and CCTV footage from a Centra shop, identifying him at the ATMs. Chiriac's prior convictions for fraud and money laundering in Romania were considered, as were his efforts to address a drug habit and his impact on his partner and young family. The €3,000 he brought to court was ordered to be paid to a charity nominated by the bank. The case was heard by Judge Melanie Greally at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Gary Hurley, 38, was found guilty of deception and use of a false instrument for obtaining a mortgage for his family home. He had submitted forged documents, including a non‑existent VAT number and mismatched signatures, to KBC Bank. The bank restructured the loan and allowed him to continue repayments, reducing arrears from over €9,000 to €1,180 by September 2021. The court heard that Hurley had no employment with the company he claimed to work for. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to three years imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, including keeping the peace and good behaviour for three years. The bank agreed to a 35‑year mortgage and was willing to accept his repayments, while the Gardaí had investigated the fraud. The case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 20 October 2017.
Brendan 'Benny' Treanor (34) of Dundalk, Co Louth, appeared at the Special Criminal Court to be charged with two offences relating to the January 23, 2013, robbery at Lordship Credit Union in Bellurgan, Co Louth, during which Detective Garda Adrian Donohoe was shot dead. Treanor is accused of entering residential premises as trespassers with the intention of stealing vehicle keys, contrary to Common Law, and robbing Pat Bellew of approximately €7,000 in cash and cheques, contrary to Section 14 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. The court heard that a co-accused male is currently in custody in the UK, with an international warrant issued for his presence in Ireland. Defence counsel indicated a potential application regarding the court's jurisdiction and estimated the trial could last up to four months. The prosecution requested a 2022 trial date due to the volume of material. Presiding Judge Tony Hunt fixed October 3, 2022, as the trial date and December 21, 2021, for a progress mention. Separately, Aaron Brady (30) of Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, was previously sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Det Gda Donohoe, a case that lasted 122 court days.
Caroline Teltsch, a UK businesswoman, has taken the High Court to claim she was defrauded by former business partner James Buckley and his wife Paula. She alleges that between 2010 and 2018 the Buckleys engaged in confidence trickery, emotional manipulation and financial exploitation, causing her to advance over €2 million in loans that were never repaid. Teltsch says the money was used for a range of ventures, including the purchase of Jessbrook Stables (now Emerald Stables) for just under €450 000, refurbishment of stables in Co. Carlow, and personal expenses such as cars, medical bills and flights to New York. She seeks a judgment of just over €1 million, damages for breach of contract, and a declaration that the partnership with the Buckleys has been dissolved. Teltsch also applied for a Mareva injunction to prevent the Buckleys from reducing their assets below €1 million, but the court dismissed the application, noting that the defendants had not yet moved overseas.
Graham Whelan, a 38‑year‑old father of four from Walkinstown, pleaded guilty in the Special Criminal Court to laundering €3,415 and to possession of cocaine, cannabis and a high‑end watch. He admitted to three counts of money laundering under the Criminal Justice Act: €1,275 found on his person, €2,140 used to pay for a hotel room, and a Piguet Royal Oak watch that was the proceeds of criminal conduct. He was remanded on continuing bail until 5 October for a sentence hearing.
A Dublin man has been sentenced to four years imprisonment following a money-laundering conviction at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Jonathon O'Connor, aged 38, pleaded guilty to concealing over €870,000 in cash at a rural property in Dromore, Bailieboro, Co Cavan on 28 July 2020. During a garda surveillance operation at the address, officers discovered €870,620 in euro and £14,890 in sterling, distributed across 21 separate cash exhibits found in sheds and outhouses. O'Connor, from Elm Road, Donnycarney, Dublin, immediately disclosed a further €80,000 in his vehicle. When questioned, he declined to identify the money's owner, stating his life would be endangered. He admitted transporting and storing the funds but offered no explanation for an apparent obligation to a third party. Judge Martin Nolan accepted O'Connor's full cooperation and clean criminal record but determined that custodial sentencing was warranted given the serious nature of money laundering.
Peredigha Amasuomo (21), of Griffth Halls of Residence, Griffth College, Dublin 8, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to three counts of money laundering at unknown locations within the state, two occurring on November 14, 2019, and the third on November 21, 2019. The charges were admitted, and Amasuomo entered a plea of guilty. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced Amasuomo to four months imprisonment, but suspended the sentence in its entirety on strict conditions. The court heard that three fraudulent payments were transferred from a bank in Puerto Rico into Amasuomo's bank account, with the total value of the funds transferred into the account being just over €6,000. Amasuomo claimed he had lost his ATM card, suggesting it was stolen and that his PIN code had been scraped onto it. The matter was adjourned for the purpose of considering the suspended sentence. Griffth Halls was also named as a defendant in the case, but no sentence was imposed at this procedural stage.
Giuseppe Diviccaro, 46, was sentenced to five years' imprisonment, with the final 18 months suspended, for acting as a front man in an international criminal organisation that used invoice‑redirect fraud to launder money. He admitted opening seven bank accounts in Ireland, most with legitimate Italian IDs but all using the same fraudulent utility bill and address. Over €200,000 was transferred into these accounts, about 70% of which was moved out quickly. Diviccaro pleaded guilty to contributing to the organisation's activities between 21 June 2018 and 17 July 2020, and to money‑laundering offences between 22 June 2018 and 6 April 2019. Gardaí seized €9,750 in cash and a mobile phone with photos of other ID cards at his home. The judge noted he was not the mastermind but his actions facilitated the criminal scheme, and he must leave the jurisdiction within 14 days of release and not return for 15 years.
Thomas Rooney, 41, pleaded guilty at the Special Criminal Court to possessing property that is the proceeds of criminal conduct. He admitted to having a blue Nike bag containing €289,770 and £65,025 (€70,207) in cash at Spar, Donore Road, Drogheda, on May 11, 2020. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, remanded Rooney on continuing bail, listing a sentence hearing for October 4. Defence counsel cited a potential lung transplant for Rooney. Rooney was also charged with possessing €254,840 in a black bag and €7,650 in cash on the same date. His former partner, Catherine Dawson, 44, previously pleaded guilty to two counts related to moving over €600,000 in crime cash. She was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison, fully suspended for five years, with the court noting her primary care responsibilities for her son. Co-accused Jason Reed, 40, pleaded guilty to money laundering and possessing proceeds of crime, including the cash in the blue Nike bag and €32,330 and £390 (€441) found at his home. The court found Reed to be a trusted, high-level member of a transnational criminal organisation and sentenced him to seven years in prison. All three were arrested in May last year following a Garda National Drugs & Organised Crime Bureau operation in Drogheda.
Stephen Feery, 31, escaped Garda custody by crawling through a hospital bathroom vent while awaiting treatment for a broken arm. He had been taken to St James Hospital after a burglary at Dame House, where he stole electrical equipment. During the escape, he struck a Garda and was later rearrested. Feery pleaded guilty to burglary and the escape charge. He has 159 prior convictions, including theft, fraud, and traffic offences. The court heard that he was heavily addicted to crack cocaine and that his escape was driven by a desire for more drugs. Counsel highlighted his complex needs and the importance of psychiatric and psychological reports. Judge Melanie Greally adjourned sentencing to November 25 to allow these reports to be prepared and to consider residential rehabilitation and support for his mental wellbeing.
Ian Coughlan, 45, of Newcastle, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to four charges of possessing €159,250, believing or being reckless about whether it was proceeds of crime, from an Allied Irish Bank and a Bank of Ireland account between June and October 2016. Gardaí investigated a fraudulent payment of €39,251 from a Turkish aviation company that was redirected to a Ukrainian supplier; the company later discovered the fraud when the money was never received. A warrant was obtained to search Coughlan's home, and he was arrested on 17 May 2017. Further evidence linked a French plastics company that transferred €120,000 into his Bank of Ireland account after being instructed to change supplier bank details. Coughlan admitted that Nigerian men had asked him to use his account for business, offering him a 10% cut, but he never received it.
In a Special Criminal Court hearing, 33‑year‑old Lisa O'Hara pleaded guilty to a single Section 7 money‑laundering charge for concealing or disguising the nature, source, location, disposition, movement or ownership of money deposited into a Bank of Ireland account in her and James Walsh's names between 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2015. The court also recorded 44 related charges against O'Hara and Walsh, all under Section 7, covering non‑scheduled offences such as converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing and using money credited to the Bank of Ireland and Palmerstown Credit Union accounts, and for concealing or disguising the true nature or source of that money. O'Hara was granted bail on a €10 000 bond with conditions including surrendering her passport and providing a contact number to the Gardaí. The case was adjourned to 19 July 2021 for further proceedings.
In a High Court judgment, Mr Peter Conlon, founder and former Managing Director of the collapsed fundraising service Pembroke Dynamic, was disqualified from acting as a company director or officer for 16 years, one of the longest periods imposed by Irish courts. Judge Mark Sanfey described Conlon's conduct as a "shabby and repugnant fraud" that diverted charitable donations from their intended recipients, causing significant depletion of resources for charities and harming vulnerable beneficiaries. The judge noted mitigating factors such as Conlon's age (67), prior imprisonment in Switzerland, and settlement of proceedings with the liquidator, which reduced a proposed 18‑year disqualification to 16 years. Conlon accepted responsibility for Pembroke's debts of up to €2 million and agreed to a €2 million judgment in favour of the liquidator. The settlement also imposed freezing orders on assets and required the transfer of €371,000 in bank accounts to the liquidator for distribution to creditors.
A man from Carndonagh, County Donegal, has pleaded guilty to involvement in a rental deposit fraud at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Robert Long, aged 32, admitted six counts of theft and two counts of deception relating to a scheme that defrauded six prospective tenants of approximately €11,000 between July and August 2017. The scam centred on an apartment at Longboat Quay, Grand Canal Dock, which Long did not have authority to rent. He acted as the sitting tenant while an unidentified accomplice, known to victims as Jack Lyndsey, posed as the landlord and collected deposits from people who responded to online advertisements. Long has no previous convictions and made €10,700 available to fully compensate the victims. Judge Melanie Greally accepted that Long was not the primary instigator and derived no financial benefit from the enterprise. Sentencing has been adjourned to October 29th pending a Probation Service report and assessment for suitability for community service. Long was remanded on continuing bail.
Jason Reed, a 40-year-old from Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, was sentenced to seven years in prison by the Special Criminal Court for money laundering and possessing proceeds of crime. Mr Justice Tony Hunt described Reed as a trusted, mid-to-high level member of a transnational criminal organisation. Reed pleaded guilty to laundering €289,770 and £62,025 found in a car park in Drogheda, Co Louth, and to laundering €32,330 and £390 found at his home. The judge set a headline sentence of 10 years but reduced it to seven years, running concurrently on both charges, citing Reed's guilty plea and lack of relevant convictions. The court noted evidence including an encrypted phone, luxury watches, and a cash-purchased mobile home. Co-accused Catherine Dawson, a 44-year-old care worker from Bettystown, Co Meath, who pleaded guilty to possessing the cash while knowing or being reckless as to whether it was criminal proceeds, was previously sentenced to three years and nine months. That term was fully suspended for five years. Detective Chief Superintendent Angela Willis stated that the sentencing reflects the Garda focus on the assets of major crime gangs.
Jason Reed, a 40-year-old from Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to money laundering and possessing the proceeds of crime. He admitted to having €32,330 and £390 at his home and €289,770 and £62,025 in a blue Nike bag at a Drogheda car park on May 11, 2021. Prosecutors alleged Reed was a high-level member of a transnational crime gang, noting he possessed five luxury watches, an encrypted phone, and had purchased a mobile home in cash despite having no source of income. His vehicle was found to have a remote-controlled false compartment. Catherine Dawson, 44, also pleaded guilty to possessing the cash while knowing or being reckless as to whether it was criminal proceeds. She was sentenced to three years and nine months in prison, a term fully suspended for five years. Mr Justice Hunt remanded Reed in custody to reappear for sentencing at the Special Criminal Court on Monday, July 5. The court acknowledged Reed's early plea, lack of previous convictions, and cooperation with gardaí, but deferred the final disposal until the scheduled sentencing date.
John Corr, 55, owner of five pharmacies, was found guilty of fraudulently claiming duplicate reimbursements from the HSE's Primary Care Reimbursement Service between 15 and 30 July 2016. He pleaded guilty to seven counts of dishonestly inducing the scheme to pay at locations in Dublin and County Louth. The total amount claimed was €3,988.79, while the duplicate claims amounted to €8,075.37. Corr had made full restitution and had no prior convictions. Judge Martin Nolan, after noting Corr's 31‑year pharmacy career and the loss of his business, ordered him to complete 240 hours of community service in lieu of a two‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term. The sentence was delivered on 23 June 2021 at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. The case highlighted the HSE's reliance on pharmacists' honesty and the impact of the fraud on Corr's pharmacy contract.
The Special Criminal Court heard that Declan Brady, his wife Deirdre Brady, and Erika Lukacs laundered approximately €1.3m in crime cash. At today's sentence hearing, Brady (55) pleaded guilty to seven further money laundering offences, Deirdre Brady (53) admitted to 17 more, and Lukacs (37) pleaded guilty to five additional offences. The court heard that Brady laundered €318,654, Deirdre Brady laundered €770,499, and Lukacs laundered €196,864. Deirdre Brady allegedly transferred over €140,000 to Thomas 'Bomber' Kavanagh and paid €138,000 towards a Spanish mortgage. The court also noted that €66,301 was paid for a wedding at Druids Glen, with €27,265 paid in cash. Declan Brady is already serving an 11.5-year sentence for supervising a weapons cache. All three defendants have paid money to the Criminal Assets Bureau. Mr Justice Tony Hunt, presiding with Judges Gerard Griffin and David McHugh, remanded Brady in custody until July 30, when he will be sentenced. The matter was adjourned.
Aaron McGuirk, 23, pleaded guilty to possession of proceeds of criminal conduct after acting as a money mule in an email fraud that laundered €23,747 through his account. He supplied bank details to fraudsters for €1,000, claiming embarrassment over not affording social activities with his girlfriend and friends. The fraud involved a hacked email from a Romanian company's accounts manager, directing a payment to a Thai business, which instead went to McGuirk's account. He withdrew about €13,000 over two days and transferred €10,000 elsewhere; none of the money has been recovered. McGuirk admitted the total gain was €1,000 and expressed remorse. Judge Melanie Greally sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years imprisonment, fully suspended on strict conditions, and ordered €2,000 to be given to the Peter McVerry Trust.
A man from Aughavas, County Leitrim, has lost his appeal against conviction for money laundering and related offences at the Court of Appeal. Simon Gold, aged 56, was serving a seven-and-a-half-year sentence following his conviction in June 2019 on 20 charges, including money laundering of €1.6 million, deception, and use of false instruments. The Court of Appeal dismissed all 12 grounds of his appeal. During his trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, evidence emerged that Gold had operated under multiple aliases and falsely represented himself as offering investment opportunities and loans to victims. A Danish businessman transferred €1.6 million to an account he controlled, whilst Irish victims, including a quarry owner and dairy farmer, were targeted with deposit schemes. The appeal court found no legal error by the trial judge in permitting the offences to be tried together, noting this presented a fuller picture of Gold's operations. Gold held 17 previous convictions spanning two decades.