Pregnant woman jailed for money laundering

By Natasha Reid

A heavily pregnant 24-year-old has been jailed for money laundering, which saw her lodge more than €30,000 into her bank account and spend more than €20,000 on designer goods when she was in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment.

The Dublin woman, who is six months pregnant, was before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Friday. She pleaded guilty to money laundering by lodging €33,715 into her bank account on various dates between January 2021 and April 2022.

The court heard that she entered her plea on the basis of recklessness, having never asked her former partner, who was her co-accused, about the source of the money.

She cannot be identified as she currently has a protection order in place against him. The court was told she is in fear for her safety and has had to go into a women’s refuge due to domestic violence.

The court heard that the case came to light when gardaí saw a Mercedes Benz approach an ATM in Coolock in June 2021. The female passenger got out and used the ATM. Gardaí later stopped the car for having no tax and insurance, and got a strong smell of cannabis, and noticed that the driver’s eyes were dilated.

They searched the car and found  €700 in cash, along with a number of designer items, including handbags and sunglasses. The woman took ownership of these, but said they weren’t genuine designer items.

Gardaí then commenced an investigation into the couple’s financial activity and found that they were living beyond their means. Both were in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, yet there were large cash deposits into the woman’s account, along with high-value items being purchased.

Their home was searched that August by which time the co-accused was in prison, and €1,000 in cash was recovered, along with luxury goods, including a Louis Vuiton bag and runners, Dior Runners and Canada Goose clothing.

The woman’s bank account showed that she had bought Canada Goose jackets, Ryanair tickets, services from Booking.com and Airbnb and had made other purchases beyond her means.

She had earned €5,000 during the time that the €33,715 went through her bank account.

The court heard that she had one previous conviction for theft in Spain.

Her barrister told Judge Martin Nolan that she was between the ages of 20 and 22 during the time of the offences and that she was in a relationship with the co-accused, who was eight years older than her.

There was abuse in the relationship and they’re no longer together, with a protection order against him. The defendant had told her legal team that she is in fear for her safety and has had to move into a women’s refuge. She wishes to have no further contact with the co-accused.

Counsel said that her client had a difficult childhood, had a parent in prison and grew up in a house with domestic abuse. Her mother, who was in court to support her, had struggled with alcoholism when the defendant was growing up.

“She said she ought to have questioned the source of the funds she was lodging,” said counsel.

The barrister asked that she would not receive an immediate custodial sentence, as custody “is far from the ideal environment” for an infant to spend its early months.

Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the case overnight to consider the sentence. He returned on Friday and said money laundering was a serious offence which allowed proceeds of crime to be used in a legitimate way.

He said she must have known or was reckless as to where the money originated from and had been living quite a good life looking at her possessions. He noted there was mention of a former partner and coercion.

Judge Nolan said there was a lot of mitigation but said she consciously participated and deserved a custodial term. He imposed a 20 month sentence from Friday’ date.