3 days ago
Man promised €500 to hand over control of bank account in fraud scheme
Alex O'Brien Kelly (24) later told gardaí he did not know why his account was being taken over by other individuals
A warehouse worker was promised €500 in cash if he handed over control of his bank account to other individuals in an invoice redirect fraud scheme, a court heard.
Alex O'Brien Kelly (24) later told gardaí he did not know why his account was being taken over by other individuals.
His solicitor said that O'Brien Kelly was a vulnerable young man, who was just turned 18 when this incident took place.
Judge David McHugh ordered the defendant to repay the company €2,100, which was its loss.
Judge McHugh also ordered O'Brien Kelly to complete 80 hours community service in lieu of three months in prison.
The defendant, with an address at Whitechapel Grove, Coolmine, Dublin 15, admitted a money-laundering offence, in that he allowed his bank account to be used for acquiring, transferring, handling or possessing the sum of €4,730, which was the proceeds of crime.
Detective Garda Mark Wall told Blanchardstown District Court that this was an invoice redirect fraud which impacted a Co Kilkenny-based company on June 6, 2019. Det Gda Wall said that the company transferred €4,730 to a bank account, which they believed was a new client account.
However, gardaí later discovered that the account belonged to O'Brien Kelly.
Det Gda Wall said that the company contacted its bank when the fraud was realised, and the defendant's account was frozen, but not before €2,100 was taken from the account. The balance of the money was returned to the company, the court heard.
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News in 90 Seconds - 5th June 2025
Det Gda Wall said that gardaí obtained CCTV footage, and O'Brien Kelly did not take the money from the account.
The court heard that O'Brien Kelly had seven previous convictions, mostly for drug-related offences.
Defence solicitor Valerie Buckley said the defendant was only 18 years at the time of this incident, which took place nearly six years ago.
Ms Buckley said O'Brien Kelly was a vulnerable young man, who she believed suffered cognitive difficulties, though she had no proof to provide to the court.
Ms Buckley said O'Brien Kelly was now working in a warehouse for a large clothing retailer, and was willing to repay the money. She also said the defendant wished to apologise to the court for his behaviour.
Judge McHugh adjourned the case to a date next January, saying O'Brien Kelly must repay the money or he faced going to jail
