Ireland Case No. 7213Theft and deception (bank fraud) · Co. Dublin
Former bank manager pleads guilty over €2.7m scheme at Artane branch
Patrick Challoner (54), a former bank manager, was accused of stealing €2.7 million from his employer, Allied Irish Bank's Artane branch in Dublin, through fictitious loan accounts that ran for 16 years. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five sample charges of theft, which stood for over 100 charges and thousands of transactions, and to one charge of deception over a €300,000 transfer. He was remanded on continuing bail. The judge adjourned sentencing to 27 November 2023.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court1 Nov
- Verdict
- Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Patrick Challoner, a 54-year-old former bank manager, created fictitious undocumented loan accounts for customers whose own applications were delayed or refused.
- Challoner was accused of stealing €2.7 million from his employer.
- Where
- The offences were alleged to have taken place at the Allied Irish Bank branch in Artane, Dublin.
- When
- The scheme ran for 16 years.
- Cause
- Challoner funded the bogus loans by taking money from customers who believed they were authorising an investment fund, but the cash was never invested.
- Investigation
- Gardaí carried out a financial profile of Challoner, including checks with Revenue and social welfare, and found no trappings of wealth.
- According to gardaí, Challoner did not financially benefit from the scheme.
- Charges
- Challoner pleaded guilty to five sample charges of theft from Allied Irish Bank, Artane branch.
- The sample charges represented over 100 charges and thousands of transactions.
- Challoner also pleaded guilty to one charge of deception over a €300,000 transfer.
- In court
- The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where Challoner was remanded on continuing bail.
- Sentence
- The judge adjourned the case to 27 November 2023 for sentence.
- Other details
- The bank suffered a total loss of €3.2 million, including reimbursing customers and an external audit.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whatChalloner created fictitious undocumented loan accounts for customers whose own applications were delayed or refused. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatChalloner was accused of stealing €2.7 million from his employer. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe scheme ran for 16 years. (irishmirror.ie)
- causeChalloner funded the bogus loans by taking money from customers who thought they were investing it. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí carried out a financial profile of Challoner, including checks with Revenue and social welfare, and found no trappings of wealth. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeChalloner pleaded guilty to five sample charges of theft from Allied Irish Bank, Artane branch. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeChalloner also pleaded guilty to one charge of deception over a €300,000 transfer. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeThe sample charges represented over 100 charges and thousands of transactions. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtChalloner was remanded on continuing bail until the sentencing date. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceThe judge adjourned the case to 27 November for sentence. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe bank suffered a total loss of €3.2 million, including reimbursing customers and an external audit. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherChalloner did not financially benefit from the scheme, according to gardaí. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 1 Nov2023Ex-bank manager stole €2.7m from employer to help customers in difficulty
Reports the guilty pleas, the scale and method of the scheme, the bank's losses, and that sentencing is set for 27 November 2023.
convicted, Patrick Challoner, 54, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Challoner