Woman reported herself to Gardai over fraud fears

A Dunshaughlin woman reported herself to Gardai after she let a friend use her account not knowing he was using it to money launder €13,000.

The 26-year-old mother was in Trim Circuit Court on 28th January charged with money laundering.

Garda Holly Naughten told the court on 4th November 2021 that the woman entered Trim Garda station and told Gardai that, on the advice of her bank, she reported a fraud that occurred involving her account.

She told gardai a friend of hers asked if he could deposit money into her account and on 19th October 2021 €13,000 was deposited. She withdrew €3,000 on one occasion and €600 on another. A guilty plea was given to the courts at an early stage.

The accused has six previous convictions, all of which are road traffic matters, and has not come to garda attention since.

The court heard €3,600 was withdrawn which the accused gave to her friend and the bank received €4,580 but it is unknown to the court what happened to the rest of the funds. The victims of the fraud have not been identified and the friend of the accused moved to England since the offence occurred.

Defending barrister Niall Gallagher told the court she is living with her mother and is the full time carer of her two children. Barrister Gallagher told the court the accused was only trying to help a friend and when notified it was fraud immediately self reported. The court heard she is “living under a rock” and is financially constrained so is unable to give a token of remorse.

Judge John Martin said it was a “most curious case” where the accused thought she was helping a friend and was not gaining any financial benefit from this.

Judge Martin imposed a €500 fine which is to be paid within six months. If this is not paid, a six months prison sentence is to be imposed.