Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 2447Possession of crime proceeds (money laundering) · Co. Dublin · 6 May 2022

Defence Forces corporal Richard Kearney jailed for three years over €6.6m money laundering

Richard Kearney, 36, a corporal in the Irish Defence Forces, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after pleading guilty to possessing €25,000 as proceeds of crime, with phone evidence showing he was involved in laundering €6.6 million and £250,000 for drug dealers between April 2021 and May 2022.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced29 Jan
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
13 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe phone conversations suggested Kearney was responsible for laundering €6.6 million and £250,000 between April 2021 and May 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe search uncovered €10,455 in cash concealed in a bedframe. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA further €15,000 was found wrapped in cling film in a freezer. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe offence occurred at Fernwood Lawn, Tallaght. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offence date was 6 May 2022. (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeKearney pleaded guilty to having €25,000, knowing or being reckless as to whether it was the proceeds of crime. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtJudge Martin Nolan said the maximum penalty available was 14 years and a sentence of six years was appropriate. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe sentence was reduced to three years after taking into account mitigating features. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKearney had risen to the rank of corporal in the Irish Defence Forces. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKearney will lose his job in the Defence Forces as a result of the sentence. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKearney had asked the Army for a transfer to another location, which led to a reduction in his wages. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThreats started to come in and Kearney had to get involved in money laundering as a result. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKearney has no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 29 Jan2025
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Defence Forces corporal jailed over role in €6.6m money laundering operation

    Sentencing report. Judge Martin Nolan reduced a six-year sentence to three years. Kearney, a corporal in the Irish Defence Forces, will be discharged. Phone evidence linked him to laundering €6.6m and £250,000 for drug dealers. Cash found hidden in his rented home in Tallaght.

    convicted, Richard Kearney, 36, male, named, irish (judged from name)Richard Kearney