Ireland Case No. 5476Money laundering · Co. Laois · 6 Apr 2020
Ciara Lynch jailed for 18 months for money laundering
On 6 April 2020, Ciara Lynch, a 33-year-old woman, was handed €50,000 in cash by a man carrying a Mr Price shopping bag in the car park of the Midway Food Court in Portlaoise, Co Laois, while sitting in a car with Kathleen O'Reilly, a 42-year-old woman. The investigation arose from confidential information about a large cash transfer, and gardaí stopped the vehicle on the M7 in the Limerick direction. In January 2024 both women pleaded guilty to money laundering, and Lynch was sentenced to 18 months in prison at Portlaoise Circuit Court in June 2024. Details of the sentence were reported on 15 July 2024.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced15 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Ciara Lynch, a 33-year-old woman, was handed €50,000 in cash by a man carrying a Mr Price shopping bag.
- Kathleen O'Reilly, a 42-year-old woman, was sitting in the car with Lynch during the cash handover.
- Where
- The cash handover took place in the car park of the Midway Food Court in Portlaoise, Co Laois.
- When
- The cash handover took place on 6 April 2020, at about 1pm.
- Investigation
- The investigation arose from confidential information about the transfer of a large sum of cash.
- Undercover gardaí were watching the food court when a white Mercedes A-class with altered registration plates parked up.
- The white Mercedes A-class was stopped by gardaí on the M7 travelling in the Limerick direction.
- Charges
- Ciara Lynch and Kathleen O'Reilly each pleaded guilty to money laundering in January 2024.
- In court
- Lynch's case was heard at Portlaoise Circuit Court, where Detective Garda Ger Galway gave evidence in January.
- Sentence
- Ciara Lynch was sentenced to 18 months in prison for money laundering in June 2024, with details reported on 15 July 2024.
- Other details
- Lynch is engaged to Dessie Dundon, described as a crime boss, who has served over 22 years of a life sentence for the 2003 murder of Kieran Keane in Limerick.
- Lynch has three previous convictions, including for violent disorder and assault.
- Neither woman has had gainful employment in many years, and both are in receipt of social welfare.
11 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe cash pick-up involved €50,000 handed to Lynch by a man in a Mr Price shopping bag. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA white Mercedes A-class with altered registration plates was used for the handover. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe cash handover took place in the car park of the Midway Food Court in Portlaoise, Co Laois. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe cash handover occurred on 6 April 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe vehicle was stopped by gardaí on the M7 travelling in the Limerick direction. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationThe investigation arose from confidential information about the transfer of a large sum of cash. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeLynch pleaded guilty to money laundering in January. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceCiara Lynch was sentenced to 18 months in prison for money laundering at Portlaoise Circuit Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherNeither woman had any history of gainful employment in many years and both are in receipt of social welfare. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherLynch has three previous convictions including for violent disorder and assault. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherDundon has served over 22 years of a life sentence for the murder of Kieran Keane in Limerick in 2003. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 15 Jul2024Dundon gangster's fiancee jailed for 18 months for money laundering
Details of the sentencing emerged in July 2024; the cash handover occurred in April 2020 and both women pleaded guilty in January 2024.
convicted, Ciara Lynch, 33, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ciara Lynchconvicted, Kathleen O'Reilly, 42, female, named, irish (judged from name)Kathleen O'Reilly