‘He was living a life of secrets' — son of GAA boss Davy Fitzgerald avoids jail for stealing €35k from former employer
A son of well-known Irish hurling manager and former player Davy Fitzgerald was given a fully suspended 12-month prison sentence after he admitted stealing €35,000 from his then employer, Bank of Ireland, to feed his 'out-of-control gambling addiction'.
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The Irish Sun
36 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
‘Thugs go after the vulnerable, I got convicted but saw no cash' says blackmailed money mule as teens targeted by gang
THOUSANDS of teenagers in Ireland have been targeted by one of the world's most violent cyber crime gangs, we can reveal. A special investigation by The Irish Sun today tells how young people — aged between 17 and 22 — have been used by the Black Axe crime gang as part of their efforts to launder €84million through Irish 6 Young people have been used by the Black Axe crime gang Credit: Garda Info 6 Funmi Abimbola was a facilitator for the gang Credit: COLLECT 6 Giuseppe Diviccaro posed as a fashion photographer in Ireland to help run a Europe-wide fraud scam Credit: COLLECT Those in the sights of the mob include people with addiction issues, individuals who are homeless and those who come from broken homes. But others include those who have to pay off drug debts, the children of millionaires and top students. They have blackmailed kids to act as money mules after obtaining intimate images of their targets. The online criminals — classified as 'master manipulators' by READ MORE IN NEWS Once interest is shown, the fraudsters outline how the money will be paid if they can have full access to the target's bank account. And that's exactly what happened to 'John', not his real name, when he agreed to act as a 'money mule' for the infamous Investigators believe the money mule was recruited by one of the gang's main 'herders' in Ireland. The top criminal has since been arrested by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau and remains a key target under 'Operation Skein'. Most read in Irish News At present, the mob is classified by Interpol as an 'ultra violent cyber crime gang' with more than 30,000 members. 'John' spoke exclusively to The Irish Sun after he received an 18-month suspended sentence for money laundering. Inside France's brutal crypto crime wave with chopped off fingers, delivery van street kidnaps & £10million ransoms He told us: 'I was duped by these people and wish I could turn back the clock. 'I was homeless at the time and got this Snapchat message offering me €500 in exchange for my bank account details, and I thought it was easy money. 'I have never been in trouble in my life and never once thought that doing something like this was a form of money laundering. 'I was vulnerable and that's why they targeted me — and I never received any payment. 'I WAS DUPED' 'I was duped by these people and I would urge anyone not to respond to requests of this nature.' John was contacted on Snapchat and agreed to hand over his personal bank details. Once obtained, €49,500 then landed in his account. Two other young men were also targeted by the same 'herder' and laundered €14,900 in one account and €7,500 in another account. He also handed over his bank card and PIN number after he was instructed to meet one of the gang's associates in Dublin. SPENDING SPREE One week later, the cash was gone as the criminals went on a spending spree, buying designer clothes and electronic devices. But it wasn't until the following year when details of the huge cash lodgement was uncovered by Gardai. A probe was launched by investigators from the DMR South Serious Crime Unit at Sundrive Road Garda Station after they were contacted by Interpol. On that occasion, Interpol suspected that the cash had been stolen from a machinery company in Hungary using an 'Invoice Redirect' fraud. HOW SCAM OPERATES The scam operates by fraudsters cloning the emails of legitimate companies and asking the firm in Hungary to send payments to a different account in Ireland. But, after identifying the fraud, the firm supplied Interpol with the bank account details of where the money had been sent. The information was later passed to Gardai. Once Gardai received details of the bank account, they established John's identity and then analysed the account, identifying any other transactions. ADMITTED GUILT John was arrested by Garda detectives on August 8, 2023 and admitted his guilt. He later pleaded guilty to a money laundering offence and received a fully suspended 18-month sentence, on March 14 of this year. John added: 'I am now in a good place and just want to get on with my life. 'I would also have no hesitation in going into schools and telling the young people there about my own experience. 'STAY WELL AWAY' 'If young people engage with these fraudsters then it could seriously affect their future — my message is to stay well away.' Det Supt Michael Cryan confirmed money mules were an 'integral part' of the major crime gang. The senior officer said: 'Individuals need to realise that if they act as a money mule, they are interacting with vicious transnational organised criminals. 'You owe them and they control you. If the money is frozen by the bank, they have been known to demand that you pay up yourself — like drug dealers. US HAS 'HARSH SENTENCING' 'The money mules have no idea what their account will be used for, how much or where it was stolen. If stolen in the USA, they may look to extradite you there to charge you and sentencing is very harsh there. 'They also need to realise that they are helping organised crime gangs who traffic humans, who run brothels, as well as funding their lavish lifestyles. 'People who get involved in this are destroying their own futures because they could go to jail, end up with a criminal record and be prevented from getting jobs.' As part of 'Operation Skein', Gardai have identified 1,100 people connected to the Black Axe gang in Ireland. OPERATION SKEIN They have also made 565 arrests, prosecuted 300 people and cautioned 39 juveniles. Over 50 senior members of the gang have also been arrested here. Our revelations on the gang come after Innocent 'Lucky' Aigbekaen, 31, from Dundalk, Co Louth, became their latest member to be jailed here in November 2024. The conman — who used the name 'Nino Blanti' — recruited money mules and laundered €331,623 through Irish accounts. Bank worker Funmi Abimbola, 26, from Rosse Court Terrace in Lucan, Dublin, who was a facilitator for the gang, was jailed for three years in October last year. Also caged was Italian conman Giuseppe Diviccaro, 48, who was locked up in 2021 after he posed as a photographer in Ireland to launder €200,000 through Irish accounts. 6 Detective Superintendent Michael Cryan said money mules were an integral part of the crime gang Credit: Brian Lawless/PA 6 Some €84million has been laundered through Irish banks Credit: Getty 6 The mob has blackmailed kids to act as money mules Credit: Paul Sharp - Commissioned by The Sun Dublin
Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Kinahan cartel associates hell-bent on revenge after Irish pub shooting in Spain
Associates of the Kinahan cartel are hell-bent on revenge after two senior members of their gang were shot dead in an Irish pub on the Costa del Sol, insiders fear. Underworld sources have told The Irish Mirror that they fear the deadly Lyons gang will now seek bloody revenge for the shock slaying of Ross Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr at a pub in Fuengirola near Malaga on Saturday night. The Lyons gang – one of Scotland's most deadly crime outfits – has been left reeling following the double murder as the pair watched the Champions League final at Monaghan's pub on Saturday night. Irish underworld sources say leaders of the gang are closely associated with mob boss Daniel Kinahan – and they will not let the killings go unanswered. "There will be hell to pay over this. The Lyons lads will not let this go," one source said. "They will be baying for blood and it is more likely to happen in Spain than anywhere else. That is the fear." We revealed yesterday that Eddie Lyons Jnr and Ross Monaghan were key members of the gang that worked with Kinahan, 47, on the massive cocaine shipment that was seized by the Army Ranger Wing off the south coast almost two years ago. Underworld sources told us the gang the men worked for teamed up with the Kinahan cartel to organise the huge, 2.5 tonnes shipment of cocaine - worth up to €450 million on the streets - seized by the ARW on the MV Matthew off the Wexford coast in September 2023. Eight men have pleaded guilty over the MV Matthew plot - and are due to be sentenced at the non-jury Special Criminal Court in Dublin later this week. Sources say gardai are satisfied the killing of the two Scottish criminals outside a bar in Fuengirola was not connected to the MV Matthew haul - or the Kinahan cartel itself. Instead, they are believed to have been targeted as part of an ongoing feud between Scottish gangs. Now there are real fears that the simmering Scottish feud will erupt into more violence in Scotland. The pair were shot dead after watching the Champions League final at Monaghan's Pub in Fuengirola. A masked gunman jumped out of a vehicle at 11.30pm, fired several rounds at the entrance of the bar, striking one of the men in the chest and the other in the chest and abdomen. The gunman then fled in the same vehicle which was driven by an accomplice - leaving tourists and expats in the bar terrified. The shootings are linked to Scotland's ongoing gangland war which has seen attacks on homes and properties linked to Glasgow's Daniel crime clan. Harrowing images from the scene show a man lying lifeless on his back in shorts and a T-shirt, next to a chalkboard on a terrace outside the Irish bar. In other images, police and paramedics can be seen surrounding the body of one of the victims, thought to be the same man, after he was covered under a blanket as shocked locals and holidaymakers looked on. Monaghan was previously cleared of the murder of notorious Glasgow hood Kevin 'Gerbil' Carroll, who was shot dead in a gangland assassination in the Asda Robroyston carpark in 2010. He was tried for the killing, but was acquitted in May 2012. He was also cleared of attempting to defeat the ends of justice by disposing of the two guns used in the shooting and torching the getaway car. In August 2017, Monaghan and Eddie Lyons Jnr were both cleared of being involved in a brutal street attack on three men outside the Campsie bar in Bishopbriggs. The brutal ambush left one of the victim's ears hanging off. However, the case collapsed after prosecutors withdrew the charges against them following two days of evidence. Monaghan had also survived a previous murder attempt. In 2017, he was shot by a gunman disguised as a pram-pushing dad outside St George's Primary School in Glasgow. Eddie Lyons Jnr was a key figure in his family's crime clan with his brother Steven Lyons now living in Dubai - where he is said to be close to Daniel Kinahan, who is holed up there with his father Christy, 67, and brother Christopher, 44. The shock Costa Del Sol killings come amidst a violent gang war that has been raging in Scotland since March. The feud first erupted following a fallout between rival gangsters after a €600k stash of cocaine was reportedly swiped from under the nose of Dubai-based Mr Big, Ross McGill. The drugs were reportedly taken by caged Edinburgh kingpin Mark Richardson's foot soldiers sparking a series of violent attacks on homes and businesses. McGill has waged war on Richardson and his associates, including the Daniel crime clan in Glasgow. Mr Big's enforcers, a faceless and frightening group going by the name of Tamo Junto (TMJ), have carried out a series of fire bombings and other vicious attacks on homes, businesses and cars associated with Richardson and the Daniel clan. Last week, it emerged that McGill had agreed to end hostilities after being leaned on by cartel bosses in Dubai. However gangland enforcers Tamo Junto (TMJ) quickly quashed any talk of peace as they vowed to continue to carry out the turf war.
Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Irish porn star receiving horrific threats since sharing plans for virgin scenes
An Irish porn star has faced terrifying threats and sickening abuse since revealing plans to record sex scenes with male virgins. Meghan O'Neill, 33, from Antrim, is a former Catholic schoolgirl, who was taught by nuns, but now claims she has been treated worse "than a murderer". Meghan, whose brother was killed 12 years ago, spoke out after revealing that she plans to record a film of her having sex with up to 10 men. She said: "People would treat me less than a murderer. They say, 'You're scum of the earth'. They say it because 'you're a sex worker, a porn star'." Meghan - who fans claim is Ireland's biggest female porn star – revealed the abuse is worse online than in her "physical, day-to-day life". She said: "People know what I do and they hate it, they're angry. I am a porn star and I wanted to get into porn since I was a teenager. "It is viewed as shameful. I was brought up Catholic and I was taught by nuns." The mum-of-two said the "school gate" is "fine" – but added: "At the start, it was a shock for everybody. They were like, 'What?' "People did treat me differently at the start, but I think they've just got used to it now. "I'm Meghan, these people have grown up with me. They've known me before, they know me now. They don't care. "It is men on the internet. They have a lot to say. They say, 'I can't wait until your kids commit suicide'. "They say, 'I can't wait to see you getting hurt'. It is constant abuse. They want to attack me because I am a mother. "I share what I've had to deal with because I want the world to be a safer place for women." Meghan said her brother was a "drug addict from very young" and "was in and out of jail" but "had turned his life around" when he was "stabbed to death". She burst onto the porn scene last year and revealed in May 2024 that she was making €11,000 a week through her OnlyFans account. She later left the industry after breaking up with fellow Irish porn star Andy Lee, 35, from Dublin. But she last week revealed in The Irish Mirror that she is planning a return to her X-rated career for a shocking new movie. Meghan is looking for some Irish male virgins, aged 29 and over, to have sex with on camera for their first time. She said: "10 virgins will get to lose their virginity to a porn star. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. "Irish men are more than welcome. It will probably be the majority of Irish men from all over the isle of Ireland. "I am happy to have sex with Irish men. I'm Irish and I love the Irish. I will tour the world after this if it goes well and do the same in different countries." Meghan added: "There are probably more men virgins than we like to believe. I talk to a lot of them daily on my OnlyFans account. Who will be the lucky 10?"
