Watch: Former soldiers and a baker among new garda recruits
Of the 89 men and 31 women, 22 were born outside the State and come from Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Croatia, England, Italy, Moldova, Northern Ireland, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Scotland, South Africa and Spain.
Most of them, 74 in all, will be sent to Dublin.
We spoke to three of the new gardaí, an Irish and an Italian soldier, and a baker who returned from Australia, and asked them where they come from, why they joined and what they hope to achieve in An Garda Siochána.
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Irish Examiner
22 minutes ago
- Irish Examiner
Central Bank investigating influencer Jonathan Finlay over promotion of unregulated trading platform T4Trade
The Central Bank of Ireland is looking into a matter concerning Irish influencer and content creator Jonathan Finlay, who has promoted an unregulated trading platform to more than half a million online followers. Boasting more than 260,000 followers on Instagram and 586,000 on TikTok, Mr Finlay, who also goes by Nasti_2k online, has made a name for himself in recent years by posting food reviews and luxury lifestyle content. The creator frequently shares photos and videos of himself on first-class flights, at Premier League matches, and on holidays in Dubai. However, the influencer also runs several channels on instant messaging app Telegram, which are focused on making money quickly from financial trading using a platform called T4Trade. In these channels, Mr Finlay encourages people to copy his trades, telling them what they should buy and sell. T4Trade disclaims on its website that it is not targeted to residents of the EU, where it is not licensed. In emails seen by the Irish Examiner,the Central Bank said neither T4Trade nor Mr Finlay was authorised to provide financial services in Ireland. 'The Central Bank can confirm that a firm by the name T4Trade is not authorised by the Central Bank to provide financial services. Further to this, we can also confirm that Jonathan Finlay is not authorised to provide financial services or advice.' The regulator also said that it was 'currently looking into this matter.' In a statement to the Irish Examiner, the Central Bank added: "Whether a particular entity or individual requires to be registered or authorised by the Central Bank depends on the exact nature of the services provided by the entity or individual. 'VIP' Channels Mr Finlay, who is based in Dublin and claims his primary income is from trading, heavily promotes the T4Trade platform, promising those who use it can copy his trades as well as receive 'VIP' attention from him. Mr Finlay says he charges €1,000 for access to a VIP channel which is owned and operated by him, but regularly allows small groups of people to enter 'free of charge,' for limited amounts of time, encouraging people to join quickly before access to the group closes. 'I show people how to make hundreds from their phone the same way as me for free,' Mr Finlay said in one of his Telegram channels with some 14,000 subscribers. 'But after next week, entry to the group will be €1,000.' For those in the VIP group, Mr Finlay shares his trading activity, which he says will earn his followers a profit if they use the T4Trade platform to copy his trades. 'Currently, there are over 2,000 people in my VIP group making consistent profit just from copying the exact same trades as me,' Mr Finlay told subscribers. To join his VIP channels, Mr Finlay also encourages followers to invest a minimum of €300 into the unauthorised platform T4Trade, which is registered in the Seychelles, adding that he will help 'guide' newcomers who are inexperienced in trading. 'By joining the VIP, you'll get access to: My daily trades, 24/7 support to help you get up and running and help with any issues, and educational material.' In another message sent to his 14,000 Telegram subscribers, Mr Finlay said those in his VIP group saw a '100% profit rate on trades,' across a one-week period, with 'not a single loser.' In another post, Mr Finlay said he would buy himself a new car with the money he made from trading. 'I'm in the market for a new motor,' Mr Finlay told subscribers earlier this month. 'I've been grinding lately and made serious profit on trading this year, so it's finally time to treat myself.' Mr Finlay continued by asking subscribers to vote on which car he should buy, choosing between a Porsche, a BMW X5 and a G Wagon. In a video post from July 20, Mr Finlay claimed he invested €50,000, saying he 'finally put pen to paper." 'In two weeks time, it will be exactly one year since I left my night shift job,' Mr Finlay said. 'If you told me then that I would be able to do all the things that I have been able to do; going on first and business class flights, private jets, going out to Dubai, 11/12 holidays this year, it is insane, and it is all because of trading.' T4Trade Describing itself as a 'global leader in online trading,' T4Trade is a trade name of Tradeco Limited, which is registered in the Seychelles. The platform also states that it is not targeted at residents of the EU, where it is not licensed, and that it does not offer its services to residents of certain jurisdictions, including the USA, Iran, Cuba, Sudan, Syria, and North Korea. In a risk warning published on its website, T4Trade says: 'Our products are traded on margin and carry a high level of risk and it is possible to lose all your capital. 'These products may not be suitable for everyone and you should ensure that you understand the risks involved.' In addition to the platform being unauthorised in Ireland, several EU regulators have issued warnings against the company. In October 2024, the Danish Financial Supervisory Authority issued a warning against T4Trade, adding that many Danish-speaking influencers were soliciting their followers to invest with the platform. Similar warnings have been issued in recent years by French, Spanish, Belgian, Portuguese, and Dutch regulators. Trading affiliates Despite claiming it does not target EU residents, the platform runs an affiliate program that EU residents can join, which is advertised as being 'well-suited to individuals and businesses who focus on driving traffic via a website or digital media and are usually digital marketers, social media influencers, bloggers, or SEO professionals.' It continues by saying it can provide affiliates with 'expert support' and 'exclusive marketing tools' to introduce the platform's products to their audiences and boost their conversion rate. The platform also says it offers 'competitive remuneration plans, including CPA commissions and extra cash bonuses.' T4Trade advertises bonuses of up to $10,000 for affiliates on its website, as well as tailored commission plans and performance-based upgrades. Mr Finlay has not confirmed to his followers whether or not he is an affiliate for T4Trade or if he receives payment from the platform for referring others. In a statement to the Irish Examiner, the Central Bank of Ireland said: 'The Central Bank is bound by strict statutory obligations of confidentiality and is precluded from commenting on the specific investigations it undertakes. 'Consumers should be aware that if they deal with a firm that is not authorised, there is no recourse to statutory compensation schemes or the Financial Services and Pensions Ombudsman.' 'Consumers are advised to check the official Central Bank website to see if the firm is authorised by the Central Bank.' The Irish Examiner has contacted Mr Finlay and T4Trade for comment.
Sunday World
5 hours ago
- Sunday World
Man waterboarded by Jonathan Dowdall admits money laundering and forgery offences
Jonathan Dowdall and his father, Patrick Dowdall, falsely imprisoned and threatened to kill Hurley – who later changed his name to Niall Daly – in January 2015 A man who was waterboarded and had his life threatened by former Sinn Féin councillor Jonathan Dowdall has admitted a number of money laundering and forgery charges at Castlebar Circuit Court. Niall Daly (28), of Meadow Park, Westport Road, Castlebar, formerly known as Alexander Hurley, could face jail time after pleading guilty to 20 counts of money laundering, deception and forgery. Jonathan Dowdall and his father, Patrick Dowdall, falsely imprisoned and threatened to kill Hurley – who later changed his name to Niall Daly – in January 2015. News in 90 Seconds - July 24th During the three-hour ordeal, the Dowdalls tied him to a chair, waterboarded him, and threatened to chop him up and feed him to dogs and remove his fingernails with a pliers. The father and son were jailed in 2022 for facilitating the murder of Kinahan gang member David Byrne during the 2016 Regency Hotel shooting. Born in Romania, Daly was adopted by an Irish family in Athlone, where he lived from the age of three. He was 18 when he was falsely imprisoned by the Dowdalls after they invited him to dinner at their home on the Navan Road in Dublin. Daly was seeking to buy a motorbike from Jonathan Dowdall, who believed he was being 'duped' by Daly after researching various scamming allegations against him. Jonathan Dowdall and his father Patrick leaving court previously Daly, who has 14 previous convictions – 11 for theft, two for road traffic offences and one for failing to appear in court – has lived in Mayo in recent times. Tuesday's sitting of Castlebar Circuit Court was told that Daly had engaged in 'foolish and unsophisticated offending', which involved bouncing cheques written in his own name from accounts that detailed his name and correct address. Investigating garda Ronan McIntyre told the court that KBC report on August 25, 2020, that Daly tried to open a financial account using a fraudulent mobile phone bill. The bank would have been at a loss of €3,500. Following inquiries, an Ulster Bank account was identified where Daly attempted to cash 12 cheques that bounced due to insufficient funds. The cheques were later lodged when Mr Daly opened an overdraft. There were six parties injured by these activities, into which two complaints were lodged. The court also heard that 29 cheques were written and bounced due to insufficient funds in a PTSB account registered to Daly. On July 14, 2022, €20,000 of a loan was transferred to Mr Daly's An Post account from an account belonging to his father, Dermot Hurley. When contacted by Advanced Finance, Mr Hurley said he knew nothing about the loan. Daly used the money to buy three motorbikes. These were later returned, one of which had 5,000 miles on its clock. Defence barrister Mark Ryan, acting on instruction from solicitor Helena Walsh, described his client as 'a very flawed human being' who had engaged in 'unacceptable behaviour'. The court heard that Daly was employed as an accounting technician for a UK-based company and has displayed traits of narcissistic personality disorder. He has been referred by his GP for counselling and was deemed to be at low risk of reoffending by the probation services. Niall Daly, formerly known as Alexander Hurley. Photo: Sunday World Describing his actions as 'a pattern of serious but foolish and unsophisticated offending', Mr Ryan said his client wished to apologise to his victims and intended to repay the €20,000 he owes his father. Judge Eoin Garavan did not accept that Daly was at low risk of reoffending, citing past incidents where he had stolen from his father, his neighbour and former employers. 'This man is absolutely fundamentally dishonest,' said Judge Garavan, 'and his history shows that he doesn't really care who he cons.' Based on his reading of Daly's probation report, Judge Garavan formed the view that Daly believed he did not have to do anything to address his behaviour. He indicated a two-year custodial sentence and two one-year sentences to run concurrently, but he adjourned imposing a sentence until next year. He also requested restitution and ordered that Daly undertake counselling. 'I believe his narcissistic nature is such that he will do this again,' remarked Judge Garavan, before adjourning the matter until next year. This article was amended on 24 July 2025 to clarify that sentencing was adjourned pending a further hearing.
Irish Times
8 hours ago
- Irish Times
Call for suspects denied bail to be released from overcrowded prisons
The Irish prison system is overcrowded to the point that prisoners are not being afforded their 'basic human rights' and legislation is required to allow for the early release of more prisoners, the Irish Penal Reform Trust has said. The Irish Prison Service should, the trust argued, have the power to release remand prisoners who have been denied bail by the courts as part of an effort to ease overcrowding. Caron McCaffrey, director general of the service, has previously highlighted the growth in the remand prison population as a significant strain on an already overcrowded system. She noted that people on remand cannot be released by prison management as the courts have ruled they should remain in custody pending trial. READ MORE A report on the Irish prison system by the Council of Europe Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Degrading Treatment (CPT), published this week, strongly criticised the level of overcrowding across the Irish prison system . Since the committee's visits to Ireland, which concluded in May of last year, the prison population has increased by more than 10 per cent to 5,539 prisoners. Responding to the report, Niamh McCormack, the trust's legal policy and public affairs manager, said overcrowding was 'pervasive' across Irish prisons and 'negatively impacting all aspects of prison life and posing safety concerns for both prisoners and staff alike'. Ms McCormack noted that early or temporary release had been used by prison management to control prisoner numbers. However, she said to make way for newly committed prisoners, the power to release others must be expanded. 'Reducing the population in pre-trial detention and expanding the availability and encouraging greater use of community-based sanctions, where those are appropriate, is a clear way to do this safely and effectively. Legislation to address these key issues must be prioritised,' she said. The Council of Europe's report on the Irish prison system recommended that when a jail has reached capacity, no more prisoners should admitted. It also found there had been an increase in allegations of abuse of inmates by prison staff, including an incident which left a prisoner with 'significant disabilities'. The report described severe overcrowding in some prisons, with some inmates having a living area of just 2.8 sq m. When the committee members concluded their visits to Irish jails in May of last year, the prison population was 4,950, with 541 prisoners on temporary release. 944 prisoners in the system were on remand awaiting trial, up from 696 in the five years since its last inspection.
