Longford woman charged with laundering €16,500
A Longford woman who appeared before the recent sitting of Longford District Court charged with a money laundering offence, has had her case put back for a probation report.
Aishling Purcell (28) with an address of 33 Ardnacassa Avenue, Ballinalee Road, Longford, faces a charge that on January 24, 2020 at AIB Main Street, Longford she engaged in the transferring/handling of property the proceeds of criminal conduct, to wit €16,500.34.
Defence solicitor Brid Mimnagh told the court the defendant’s mother is terminally ill, and she is hoping to have the case dealt with as quickly as possible.
Garda Sergeant Mark Mahon said there were other parties involved and sought an adjournment to next year.
“There is a very significant amount of money involved here,” Judge Bernadette Owens said. It would be better to have a picture of the whole situation, Judge Owens added.
Sgt Mahon outlined to the court that a sum of €16,500 was lodged into the defendant’s AIB account in Longford. The money had been transferred from the Czech Republic. The money had come from a person who had been the victim of redirect fraud.
Money had then been withdrawn through two ATM transactions for sums of €600 and €1,500, on the one date.
The defendant then attempted to withdraw the remaining funds in the bank. When she was challenged about this, she said the money was hers, and was her wages.
She provided false documents but the bank did not hand over the money.
Sgt Mahon said the money withdrawn at the ATM was alleged to have been done so by a co-accused.
The defendant made full admissions in interviews with gardaí, Ms Mimnagh said, and identified all the parties. This was accepted by Sgt Mahon.
The defendant’s mother became ill around 2020, and the defendant became addicted to drugs.
She ended up owing a debt of €100 and was told she would have to pay. She had a small job at the time, selling candles online.
When she handed over her bank details, she thought the people involved were going to take out the €100 that was owed, Ms Mimnagh said.
The people accompanied her to the bank and “were outside, waiting for her,” Ms Mimnagh said.
The mother of two is now free from addiction, Ms Mimnagh said.
Judge Bernadette Owens said she was not happy to finalise matters that day. She felt the defendant would benefit from a probation report, “with all that is going on and her personal circumstances”.
The case was adjourned to May 7, 2024 for a probation report.