Two in court over Trinity College's Student Hardship Fund fraud

Claire Henry

Two people have appeared at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in relation to the alleged defrauding of €500,000 from Trinity College's Student Hardship Fund.

Luke Taaffe (34) of Brookwood Avenue, Artane, Dublin 5, pleaded guilty to one count of converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using property that is the proceeds of criminal conduct in the sum of €1,500, from the Student Hardship Fund of Trinity College Dublin, while also knowing it was the proceeds of criminal conduct on October 8th, 2020.

Taffe will be sentenced on December 17th, 2025.

A co-accused, Helen Richardson (46), from Beaupark Square in Clongriffin, Dublin, was given an arraignment date of January 28th, 2026.

It is alleged that Richardson, who worked as a student support officer along with a co-accused, defrauded Trinity College Dublin’s Student Hardship Fund of just under €500,000 on dates between 2021 and 2022.