‘state of panic’ | 

Student duped into laundering proceeds of crime after pal spent debs cash

Judge John Brennan heard that Heron had since repaid the money which the bank had lost, some €2,160, and he struck out the charge, leaving her without a conviction.

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A student who was trying to earn cash quickly after a friend spent the money they had collected for the school debutante ball was duped by a man into laundering €6,000 in her bank account, a court has heard.

Kate Heron (19) had also been in an “absolute state of panic” after this man threatened to attack her family if she gave his name to gardaí.

Judge John Brennan heard that Heron had since repaid the money which the bank had lost, some €2,160, and he struck out the charge, leaving her without a conviction.

The accused, of Chanel Manor Close, Coolock village, admitted she concealed or disguised the true nature of money that was the proceeds of crime, namely a bank transfer of cash of €6,090, at Bank of Ireland in Coolock on September 19, 2022.

Detective Garda Michael McCabe told Swords District Court that the bank had been at a loss of €2,160, as the remainder of the money had been recouped by them.

The court heard that Heron had never been in trouble before.

Defence solicitor Fiona D’Arcy said that this was an unusual case, and was totally out of character for the defendant.

At the time of this incident, Heron had just completed her Leaving Certificate, and she and a friend had been organising the school debs party.

Ms D’Arcy said the pair had collected €2,000 from students, but the defendant’s friend had spent the money before the debs.

She said Heron only became aware of the missing money two weeks before the debs, and she was frantically trying to figure out ways to make money quickly.

Ms D’Arcy said Heron asked around her neighbourhood, and another individual abused her naivete and told her she could make quick money by doing this, and he assisted her in doing it.

Ms D’Arcy said Heron, who was now completing a science degree, had since repaid the money to the bank.

The solicitor told the court Heron made a stupid mistake and was very sorry for her actions.

The other individual had also threatened her that if she gave gardaí his name he would attack her family. The teenager, who was only 18 at the time of this incident, was in an “absolute state of panic”.

Ms D’Arcy asked the judge to leave Heron without a conviction, saying she had learned her lesson and she had her whole life in front of her.

Det Gda McCabe also said that Bank of Ireland had been happy for Heron to remain as a customer.