Thursday 29 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. 12431Possession of counterfeit currency · Co. Offaly · 2 Dec 2023

Edenderry man given suspended sentence for possessing 720 counterfeit notes

Lee Fennelly (34) of Edenderry pleaded guilty to possessing 720 counterfeit euro notes on 2 December 2023. Judge Sinead McMullan imposed a 20-month suspended sentence at Tullamore Circuit Court.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced13 Oct
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
17 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatLee Fennelly pleaded guilty to possessing counterfeit notes. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • what720 counterfeit euro notes were held by a man in Edenderry. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatA search found a black Nike bag in the boot containing 699 notes. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe offence took place at Fr Paul Murphy Street in Edenderry. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenThe offence took place on 2 December 2023. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • causeFennelly said he bought the notes online through AliExpress about a year earlier. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí noticed a vehicle appeared interested in their vehicle at 8.36pm on the date of the offence. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at Tullamore Circuit Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of three years and reduced it to 20 months. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Sinead McMullan imposed a 20-month suspended sentence on Fennelly. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe sentence was suspended in its entirety on condition of a €100 bond and a €500 payment to the V-SAC charity. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge ordered the notes destroyed, and the bag and wallet returned to Fennelly. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe notes had 'prop copies' printed on them. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherFifty-one notes in the bag had the words 'prop copies' covered with Tippex. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe potential value of the notes in the bag was €18,370. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherFennelly considered using the notes instead of chips when playing poker socially. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherFennelly said he thought the notes could not be passed as real. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Oct2025
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Court hears counterfeit notes found in Offaly were 'movie props'

    Reports the Circuit Court sentencing: the notes were said to be movie props, the defence mitigation, and the suspended sentence terms.

    convicted, Lee Fennelly, 34, male, named, irish (judged from name)Lee Fennelly