By Eimear Dodd
A man who allowed his bank account to be used to launder €188,000 of “illicit money” told gardai that part of his income was from breeding bulldogs.
Cian Fitzpatrick (28) told gardai he had selling the dogs for around €2,500 and had also done work as a cleaner, a court has heard.
Detective Garda Aoife Lewis told Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that gardai took statements from people who said they bought dogs from Fitzpatrick, including one from a woman who said her dog had died. No living dog was found, the court heard.
Fitzpatrick, of Ashlawn Park, Ballybrack, Co. Dublin, pleaded guilty to possession of the proceeds of criminal conduct.
He was jailed for 21 months yesterday.
The court was told that approximately €188,000 went through Fitzpatrick’s accounts between 2020 and 2024.
Gardai received confidential information about Fitzpatrick and started an extensive investigation focused on his expenditure and income over the four year period.
Records from Revenue showed that Fitzpatrick did not have any employment during these years, did not pay tax or register for tax.
He was also in receipt of disability allowance of €230 a week.
Around €74,000 in cash from various sources was lodged into his AIB account over the four years while €123,479 went through his Revolut account.
A further €88,000 was transferred into a Revolut account in the name of his co-accused from his Revolut account and other accounts.
Fitzpatrick later admitted he had control of his co-accused’s Revolut account and that he was the person doing the transfers.
While some flights to Dubai were booked, gardai are unsure what happened with the rest of the money.
Any amounts which had been verified by the garda investigation had been deducted, leaving €188,000, the court heard.
When interviewed, Fitzpatrick was initially reluctant to talk, but later said he had been breeding bulldogs since 2017 and selling them for about €2,500 through word of mouth.
He also said he worked as a cleaner and bought and sold motorbikes.
Fitzpatrick accepted he never registered for tax or as a dog breeder.
The court was told that gardai looked into Fitzpatrick’s answers and 60 receipts were later issued and provided to the investigation.
Fitzpatrick also didn’t say at the time where the dogs were being bred.
He accepted he didn’t pay tax and wasn’t registered with Revenue.
Fitzpatrick has 26 previous convictions including for violent disorder, drugs and road traffic offences
Det Gda Lewis agreed with Carol Doherty BL, defending, that the plea was of assistance to the prosecution.
It was further accepted that Fitzpatrick was co-operative and provided documentation to gardai.
Ms Doherty told the court her client has had difficulties with his mental health and substance abuse, which he is addressing.
She outlined his background and nine references were handed to the court.
Defence counsel said Fitzpatrick has had some periods of work and is involved in his local community.
She submitted that her client is capable of working in a positive way and asked the court to consider suspending a portion of the sentence.
Judge Martin Nolan said that a large amount of money circulated through accounts controlled by Fitzpatrick.
He noted that Fitzpatrick had no legitimate employment at the time and gardai attempted to verify his explanations.
The judge said the amount of €188,000 was “illicit money” and was “either a product of criminal behaviour or monies that the appropriate taxes were not paid upon”.
He said Fitzpatrick had very good mitigation and handed him a sentence of 21 months.