Ireland Case No. 20525Passport offence (sale of passport) · Co. Louth
Dundalk man sentenced for selling passport used by Daniel Kinahan
Seamus Walsh, a 43-year-old man from Dundalk, pleaded guilty at Dundalk Circuit Court in February 2023 to selling a false passport in his own name, bearing Daniel Kinahan's photograph, for €2,000 in December 2011. The passport, issued on 5 December 2011, was used by Kinahan, a senior figure in organised crime, for six years before being revoked in October 2017. Walsh, who said he was a heroin addict at the time and was approached by an unknown man, failed to appear for sentencing in April 2023, leading to a bench warrant and his arrest at a Quay Street post office. He was sentenced on 23 June 2023 to two and a half years, with the final 15 months suspended.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court17 Feb
3 reports - Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced28 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A 43-year-old man applied for a false passport in his own name bearing Daniel Kinahan's photograph, and the passport was used by Kinahan for six years before being revoked in October 2017.
- Walsh was paid €2,000 to apply for the passport after being approached by an unknown man described as a member of the Travelling community.
- Three supporting documents, a bill, a driver's licence, and bank account details, submitted with the application were false.
- Where
- Walsh is from Mountainview Crescent, Dundalk, and the case was heard at Dundalk Circuit Court.
- When
- The passport was issued on 5 December 2011 and dispatched to Walsh's home address the following day.
- Investigation
- The investigation began after a complaint from the Passport Office, with the Head of Investigations at the Department of Foreign Affairs notifying the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation in January 2018.
- Charges
- Walsh pleaded guilty to the sale of his passport to an unknown person after December 2011.
- In court
- Judge Dara Hayes said acquiring a passport in this manner can only be for a criminal purpose and warned that a custodial sentence was a very real possibility.
- Walsh failed to appear for sentencing on 25 April 2023, a bench warrant was issued, and he was arrested at Quay Street post office and remanded in custody.
- Sentence
- Walsh was sentenced to two and a half years with the final 15 months suspended, backdated to 23 June 2023.
- Other details
- Walsh said he was a heroin addict at the time of the application, and a Garda detective confirmed he had no association with Kinahan or organised crime.
- Walsh is the sole carer for his wheelchair-bound mother, and a letter from his GAA club outlined his community involvement.
56 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA 43-year-old man admitted he applied for a false passport in his own name that was then used by Daniel Kinahan (rte.ie)
- whatWalsh was paid €2,000 for the passport (rte.ie)
- whatWalsh was approached by an unknown man described as a member of the Travelling community (rte.ie)
- whatDaniel Kinahan had the use of the passport for six years before it was cancelled (rte.ie)
- whatThe supporting documentation including a bill, driver's licence and bank account details were false (rte.ie)
- whatThe photograph on the passport application was of Daniel Kinahan, not Walsh (rte.ie)
- whatWalsh handed the passport to the unknown Traveller when it arrived at his house in Dundalk (rte.ie)
- whatWalsh was paid €2,000 to apply for a passport in his own name (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe passport was dispatched to Walsh's home address the day after it was issued (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe passport photo matched another passport application for Daniel Joseph Kinahan (irishtimes.com)
- whatThree supporting documents submitted with the application were false (irishtimes.com)
- whatWalsh sold the passport document to a man for €2,000 (irishtimes.com)
- whatWalsh admitted being paid €2,000 for the passport in December 2011. (rte.ie)
- whatWalsh pleaded guilty to selling his passport to an unknown person after December 2011. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whatWalsh had applied for a false passport in his own name, and Daniel Kinahan used that passport. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereSeamus Walsh is from Mountainview Crescent in Dundalk (rte.ie)
- whereThe case was heard at Dundalk Circuit Court. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whereWalsh was arrested at Quay Street post office. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- whenThe passport was issued on 5 December 2011 (irishtimes.com)
- whenWalsh attended Dundalk Garda station voluntarily in August 2018 (irishtimes.com)
- causeWalsh was offered €2,000 to make the passport application. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- investigationThe investigation began on foot of a complaint from the Passport Office (rte.ie)
- investigationThe investigation began after a complaint from the Passport Office. (rte.ie)
- investigationA Garda detective does not believe Walsh was involved in organised crime or with the ultimate recipient of the passport. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- chargeWalsh admitted applying for a false passport using his name but with a different picture. (rte.ie)
- courtJudge Dara Hayes said acquiring a passport in this manner can only be for a criminal purpose and was a serious offence (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge ordered three urinalysis tests as proof Walsh was off drugs (rte.ie)
- courtSentencing was adjourned until 25 April (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge warned that a custodial sentence was a very real possibility (rte.ie)
- courtJudge Hayes said acquiring a passport in this manner can only be for criminal purposes (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was adjourned to 25 April for finalisation (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe judge warned Walsh that a custodial sentence was a very real possibility (irishtimes.com)
- courtWalsh's sentencing was delayed because he failed to attend court. (rte.ie)
- courtA bench warrant was issued for Walsh's arrest. (rte.ie)
- courtWalsh's barrister said he had messaged his solicitor to say he could not attend because of a family funeral. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge issued the bench warrant but asked gardaí to execute it with discretion if Walsh was at a funeral. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge said Walsh should have given his solicitors more information about his inability to attend court. (rte.ie)
- courtWalsh was remanded in custody when a bench warrant was executed. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- courtWalsh failed to attend in April for the finalisation of his sentence, and his barrister said he had panicked. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- sentenceAt a previous hearing the judge warned that a custodial sentence was a very real possibility. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe judge imposed a two and a half year sentence and suspended the final 15 months, backdated to June 23rd. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherWalsh was a heroin addict at the time (rte.ie)
- otherDaniel Kinahan is described as a senior figure in organised crime (rte.ie)
- otherIt was common that vulnerable people with drug or alcohol addictions were approached for passports (rte.ie)
- otherWalsh said he was off his head on drugs at the time (rte.ie)
- otherWalsh had been off heroin for the past seven years (rte.ie)
- otherWalsh was the sole carer for his ill mother who is in a wheelchair (rte.ie)
- otherWalsh said he had a heroin addiction at the time of the passport sale (irishtimes.com)
- otherWalsh stopped taking heroin in 2016 (irishtimes.com)
- otherWalsh is the sole carer for his wheelchair-bound mother who has significant medical issues (irishtimes.com)
- otherDet Gda McKenna confirmed Walsh had no association with Daniel Kinahan or organised crime (irishtimes.com)
- otherA letter from Sean O'Mahony's GAA club outlined how Walsh helps train the Under 10s and assists with cleaning and fundraising (irishtimes.com)
- otherWalsh could not be contacted by phone to verify the reason for his absence. (rte.ie)
- otherA probation report indicated Walsh's mother had been in a nursing home since the previous August. (rte.ie)
- otherWalsh told gardaí he was off his head on drugs when he made the application. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
- otherThe passport was revoked in October 2017, which the judge said allowed for its criminal use for up to six years. (dundalkdemocrat.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 28 Jun2023Dundalk man jailed for selling passport used by Daniel Kinahan
The headline says he was jailed for 15 months, but the article says he received a two and a half year sentence with the final 15 months suspended and backdated to June 23rd. It also reports that he failed to attend for sentence finalisation in April, was remanded after a bench warrant, and was arrested at Quay Street post office.
convicted, Seamus Walsh, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seamus Walsh - 25 Apr2023Man fails to appear for sentencing over false passport
Adds that sentencing was delayed on 25 April 2023 because Walsh did not attend court, that a bench warrant was issued for his arrest, and that the judge criticised him for not giving his solicitors more information.
accused, Seamus Walsh, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seamus Walsh - 17 Feb2023Man with heroin addiction sought passport for Daniel Kinahan in exchange for €2,000, court hears
Provides details of the sentencing hearing: the three false supporting documents, Walsh's heroin addiction and mitigation, Det Gda McKenna's confirmation of no association with Kinahan, GAA club letter, and the adjournment to 25 April 2023 with conditions.
accused, Seamus Walsh, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seamus Walsh - 17 Feb2023Man admits applying for passport used by Daniel Kinahan
Reports on the plea hearing where Walsh admitted the offence, providing details of how the passport was obtained, the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation's findings, and the judge's comments before adjourning sentencing to 25 April.
accused, Seamus Walsh, 43, male, named, irish (judged from name)Seamus Walsh