Latest news with #Act2001
Irish Examiner
20 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Court orders probation and welfare report ahead of Catherine O'Brien sentencing
The preparation of a probation and welfare report has been ordered before the sentencing of Catherine O'Brien on deception charges. Judge Eugene O'Kelly directed that the report be prepared when the sentencing matter came up for mention at Waterford Circuit Court on Tuesday morning. Ms O'Brien was found guilty last Wednesday of deception charges by a jury at Waterford Circuit Court. The jury returned the verdict following a trial relating to the purchase, transport, and insurance of a French mare called Lingreville. It was alleged that she 'dishonestly by deception' induced Dubliner John Blake to pay €20,000 to purchase the horse — which the State alleged was not purchased; to pay €1,100 insurance for the mare — which the State said was not paid; and €984 to transport the horse from France to Ireland — which the State said was not transported. The jury returned guilty verdicts on all three charges within 40 minutes of being sent out to deliberate last Wednesday afternoon. Ms O'Brien, of An Grianan, Ballinroad, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, had pleaded not guilty to the three charges of making gain or causing loss by deception contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. The trial had heard that Mr Blake has been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer and also suffered a stroke in 2019. On Tuesday morning, counsel for the State, Conor O'Doherty, told Waterford Circuit Court that the injured party in the case will not be able to travel to deliver his victim impact statement in person ahead of sentencing. It will instead be delivered on his behalf by Detective Garda Joe Wyse, Mr O'Doherty said. He said that the only date which the defence team would be in a position to deal with the sentencing would be July 30. However, Mr O'Doherty said there was a very full list for that date. Catherine O'Brien was convicted following a trial relating to the purchase, transport, and insurance of a French mare called Lingreville. File picture: Dan Linehan He applied to the court for an adjournment of the sentencing matter for mention on October 8, which was granted by Judge O'Kelly. Judge O'Kelly said: 'I don't think I formally directed the preparation of a probation and welfare report so I am doing so now. There is no prospect of that being received before the end of term so remand in continuing custody until October 8 for mention on that date, production on that date via video link to Waterford Circuit Criminal Court.' Mr O'Doherty told the court that there is 'another matter, judge, which can travel with it' for mention also on October 8. Judge O'Kelly agreed to that request. Ms O'Brien appeared via video link from Limerick prison for the short hearing. She did not speak during the hearing, other than to confirm that she could hear and see the court.
Sunday World
09-07-2025
- Sunday World
Former Trinity College employee charged with 102 offences over €500k university fraud
The alleged offending occurred between 2020 and 2021 and involved money being paid out to people who had never actually attended the university A former Trinity College employee has been charged with 102 theft and money laundering offences relating to the alleged defrauding of over half a million euro from the university. Helen Richardson (46) and two co-accused appeared before the Dublin District Court this morning as part of a fraud investigation into the payment of over €500,000 from the Trinity College Hardship Fund. The alleged offending occurred between 2020 and 2021 and involved money being paid out to people who had never actually attended the university. Detective Garda Joseph Heaphy gave evidence of arresting Ms Richardson at her home in Beaupark Square, Clongriffin, at 8.14am today. She was conveyed to Pearse Street garda station where she was charged with 102 offences by Sergeant Cliff Harding. The court heard the accused made no reply to any of the charges. She had been employed as the Undergraduate Student Support Officer at the time of the alleged offending. Ms Richardson faces 51 charges of theft from Trinity College Dublin contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. She is further charged with 51 counts of engaging in transferring property that was the proceeds of criminal conduct, to wit money from the Student Hardship Fund of Trinity College Dublin, while knowing it was the proceeds of criminal conduct. Detective Garda Heaphy told the court that there were no objections to bail but added that gardaí were seeking conditions. He requested that the accused provide gardaí with a telephone number within 24 hours and that she inform gardaí if she intends to move home address. Det Gda Heaphy also asked that Ms Richardson have no contact with any of the witnesses involved in the case or her two co-defendants. Helen Richardson (46) of Beaupark Square, Clongriffin Judge Paula Murphy granted the accused bail in her own bond of €300 and applied the conditions sought by gardaí. The court heard that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed that she should face trial on indictment before the Circuit Court and had consented to the matter being sent forward on a signed plea. The detective also sought a four-week adjournment for service of the book of evidence, adding that it is a 'very significant investigation'. Defence solicitor Edward Bradbury applied for legal aid saying his client is currently in receipt of social welfare, which was granted. The accused, wearing a black jumper and denim jeans, did not address the court during the brief hearing and left the court complex shortly after being granted bail. Helen Richardson (46) of Beaupark Square, Clongriffin Today's News in 90 Seconds - July 9th Another defendant Luke Taffe (33), of Brookwood Avenue in Artane, faces 20 money laundering charges as part of the investigation. He is accused of converting/transferring/acquiring/possessing/using property that is the proceeds of criminal conduct, to wit different sums from the Student Hardship Fund of Trinity College, while knowing it was the proceeds of criminal conduct. Daniel Dwyer (47), of Edenmore Avenue in Dublin, faces 14 money laundering charges. This includes converting €15,590 from the university's fund at the Central Bank of Ireland in the IFSC, North Wall Quay, while knowing it was the proceeds of criminal conduct. These charges are contrary to Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. The three accused are due to appear before the district court again in October for service of a book of evidence.
Sunday World
26-04-2025
- Sunday World
‘Naive' teenager tried to travel to the USA on his friend's passport, court told
At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett imposed 80 hours community service in lieu of four months in prison on Aaron O'Brien (19) of Innishannon Road, Fair Hill, Cork. A 'naive' teenager tried to get through US Customs & Border controls at Shannon airport to board a US-bound flight with a friend's passport who "he looked a bit like', a court has heard. At Ennis District Court, Judge Alec Gabbett imposed 80 hours community service in lieu of four months in prison on Aaron O'Brien (19) of Innishannon Road, Fair Hill, Cork. This was after Mr O'Brien pleaded guilty to having in his possession an Irish passport in the name of Jordan White which he knew to be a false instrument on November 5th at Shannon airport with the intention to inducing another person to believe that it was genuine contrary to the Section 29 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. Judge Gabbett commented: 'Mr O'Brien is not a candidate for custody notwithstanding the seriousness of the offence." Read more Prince Andrew and Jeffrey Epstein accuser Virginia Giuffre dies aged 41 Solicitor for Mr O'Brien, John Casey told the court 'this is not the Hutches or the Kinahans going in and out of Iraq and Iran'. Mr Casey said that Mr O'Brien 'did not have a hope in hell' in getting past US border controls at Shannon with his friend's passport. Judge Gabbett said that Mr O'Brien was fortunate that there is a US border control at Shannon airport and was not allowed to get on the departing flight as he could have faced a few nights in custody at JFK or Logan airport if the US border controls were based on the other side. Mr Casey explained that Mr O'Brien's wife was on holidays with her family in the US and was pregnant and fell sick. Mr Casey said that Mr O'Brien got a short term visa to go to America and he went to Dublin airport and when he got there for whatever reason, as he has no previous convictions, he was told that he was not travelling. Mr Casey said that Mr O'Brien went back down to Cork and got his friend's passport and went to Shannon airport and he was stopped there and Gardai got involved when Mr O'Brien tried to get through US border controls. On his friend's passport, Mr Casey said that Mr O'Brien 'looked a bit like him alright'. Mr Casey said that Mr O'Brien never thought it out and he just wanted to be with his wife and she is heavily pregnant now and did get back home. Mr Casey said that it was Mr O'Brien's first trip to the US. Judge Gabbett said Mr O'Brien was obviously naive in trying this "as anyone who has been through US immigration knows that your face is scanned, your hand is scanned and fingerprints are taken'. Judge Gabbett said: 'I get why he did it because of his wife falling ill and his own passport not going to work." Judge Gabbett said that he had to convict Mr O'Brien of the offence as the Irish passport is sacrosanct and allows travel to 120 countries without a visa.
