Dole recipient (24) jailed after laundering over €40,000 in his bank account

Niamh O'Donoghue

A dole recipient laundering over €40,000 in his bank account has been jailed at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Eoin Wiley (24) pleaded guilty to one count of money laundering at AIB Balbriggan on dates between June 9th 2023, and July 24th 2023, inclusive.

Wiley of Dun Saithne Crescent, Balbriggan, Dublin has 155 previous convictions for offences including assault causing harm, driving offences, intoxication in a public place and possession of stolen property. He only receives €120 a week on social welfare, the court heard.

Garda Keith Coleman of the Economic Crime Bureau in Balbriggan told the court Wiley “is a recidivist offender and is very well known to gardaí”.

In August 2023, a district court order was made in relation to his AIB account, the court heard. Wiley’s bank accounts from June 9th, 2023 and July 24th, 2023, inclusive, showed various deposits from a number of third parties amounting to €41,920.81. Cash withdrawals were made from ATMs, the court heard.

The Department of Social Protection said Wiley received Jobseeker’s Allowance and was not in employment. Gardaí called to his address and arrested him for money laundering. When interviewed at Balbriggan Garda Station, nothing of evidential value emerged.

He was released and a file was sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions. He was charged on June 25th last and entered a signed plea. He affirmed his signed plea in the Circuit Court.

“I’d put him medium to high as there weren’t many people below him,” Garda Coleman told the court. “He was withdrawing the cash,” he added.

In mitigation, Pieter Le Vert BL, defending, said Wiley was an only child and he has a partner and two children. He is now in custody. His father passed away, and he missed the birth of his daughter while in custody.

Counsel said Wiley was diagnosed with ADHD, and drugs were a very serious problem, but he did have periods of sobriety. He got a Safe Pass and worked as a labourer after the birth of one of his children.

The maximum penalty is 14 years, the court was told. Judge Crowe set a headline sentence of two years, six months from today, with credit for time spent in custody.

Mr Le Vert asked the judge if she could suspend a portion of it. Judge Crowe said she would suspend the final three months of it.