By Fiona Ferguson
A woman who “stupidly” gave her Revolut account details to two men who approached her at a rave has avoided a jail term for money laundering.
Rebecca Williamson (25) told gardai she was intoxicated when approached by the men who told her they would “throw me a grand” after asking for her Revolut details.
Williamson of Templeview Drive, Clarehall, Coolock, Dublin 17, pleaded guilty to money laundering on dates between September 6th and 8th, 2023. She has no previous convictions.
Passing sentence Judge Martina Baxter at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court said this was a serious offence but one that comes before the courts all too frequently.
She said Williamson’s role in giving her details was facilitating a cycle of criminal activity, while those higher up the ladder avoid detection.
The judge said Williamson played a lower-level role but had participated for financial gain. A headline sentence of two and half years was considered appropriate.
In mitigation the court took into account full cooperation, the insight she has gained as well as her genuine remorse.
Judge Baxter said her early guilty plea had avoided a possibly complex trial and was a public acknowledgement of the role she played in the onward transmission of illegally gotten money.
Imposing a 12-month sentence, Judge Baxter suspended it in full for 12 months. She also directed that €1,000 be donated to the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Judge Baxter said custody was not warranted given her progress and circumstances, adding that she had learned her lesson and been left with a conviction.
Garda Keith Coleman told the court that gardai received confidential information which caused them to commence an investigation into Williamson. Gardai submitted a data protection request to Revolut for her bank account documentation and transactions.
Gda Coleman said garda were able to ascertain that between September 6th and 8th, 2023 there was a total of €13,900. He said the money was deposited into her account via single card top ups to her account. The cards were added via Apple Pay or Google Pay, with 18 deposits of around €700.
The money came in over the two day period and was immediately transferred to a number of individuals in various amounts. Gardai formed a view that Williamson was involved in money laundering
Williamson met with gardai and made full admissions. She told them she had been at a rave event and was approached by two lads who asked for her Revolut so they could order a premium black Revolut card. She said the men told her they would “throw me a grand.”
She told gardai she had been intoxicated and wasn’t thinking. She said she never thought it would be used for what happened. She said she did not know the men.
She said she began getting threatening phone calls and feared the worst. She did not tell her family what was going on and a week or two later she received €1,000 via a friend.
The court heard she had been at the rave with this friend who knew the men. Her counsel told the court she is longer friends with this person, who has received a suspended sentence.
Patrick Jackson BL, defending, said this had been an incident on a night out when her wits were not at their sharpest. He said she accepts she was stupid and said she was in a vulnerable state of mind.
He said she has been employed since she was 16-years old. Her employer provided a letter to the court stating she was reliable, professional and trustworthy, with a strong work ethic.
Mr Jackson submitted that this offence was “a complete one off”. He asked the court to take into account her guilty plea, full admissions and said she had brought €2,000 to court.