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. 5327Money laundering · Co. Longford · 1 Oct 2017

Frank Kilbride sentenced to three years for laundering €2.6 million linked to Cyril McGuinness

Frank Kilbride (70), of Aughakilmore, Ballinalee, Co Longford, pleaded guilty to three counts of laundering €2,604,564.05 through three bank accounts between October 2017 and March 2018, in a case linked to Cyril 'Dublin Jimmy' McGuinness. In November 2019, searches in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Buxton, England, were carried out under warrants relating to the 2019 kidnapping and torture of Kevin Lunney in Co Fermanagh, and McGuinness died of a heart attack during a police raid on his UK home that year. On 30 July 2024 Kilbride appeared before Longford Circuit Criminal Court, where Judge Kenneth Connolly imposed 4½ years, reduced from a headline six years, and suspended the final 15 months. Reports give the effective term as three years or three years and three months, and Kilbride was banned from registering new companies during the suspended term.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced30 Jul
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Frank Kilbride, aged 70, of Aughakilmore, Ballinalee, Co Longford, pleaded guilty to three counts of money laundering.
  • The three counts involved sums totalling €2,604,564.05 moved through three bank accounts.
  • One bank account moved €1,727,427.28 and another moved €867,143.80 to companies across Ireland, the UK and Europe.
  • Kilbride's personal bank account was linked to moving about €10,000.
When
The laundering took place between October 2017 and March 2018.
Other details
  • A partial AIB statement in the name of WOI Plant Hire & Supplies Ltd gave details relating to TJO Developments, which Kilbride sold for €3,000 in spring 2017.
  • Cyril McGuinness died of a heart attack during a police raid on his home in the UK in 2019, and has since been named as a key organiser of the attack on Lunney.
  • Kilbride, who has cancer, asked the judge not to let him die in jail.
  • Kilbride served three times as a Fine Gael councillor in Co Longford, elected in 1999, 2004 and 2009, and is a former mayor of Longford.
Investigation
  • The prosecution is linked to the Garda investigation into the 2019 kidnapping and torture of Kevin Lunney in Co Fermanagh.
  • In November 2019 searches were carried out in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Buxton, England, under warrants relating to the assault and abduction of Lunney.
In court
Kilbride appeared before Longford Circuit Criminal Court on a Tuesday, as reported on 30 July 2024.
Sentence
  • Judge Kenneth Connolly imposed 4½ years, reduced from a headline six years, and suspended the final 15 months.
  • Reports give the effective sentence as three years in the headline and three years and three months in the article text.
  • Kilbride was banned from registering new companies during the suspended term.
14 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatKilbride pleaded guilty to three counts of laundering sums totalling €2,604,564.05 through three bank accounts. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe prosecution is linked to the Garda investigation into the 2019 kidnapping and torture of Kevin Lunney in Co Fermanagh. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA partial AIB bank statement was discovered in the name of WOI Plant Hire & Supplies Ltd, which provided details relating to TJO Developments. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatOne bank account moved €1,727,427.28 and another moved €867,143.80 to companies across Ireland, the UK and Europe. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatA third bank account, Kilbride's personal account, was linked to moving about €10,000 in funds. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe laundering took place between October 2017 and March 2018. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationIn November 2019, searches were carried out in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Buxton, England on foot of warrants relating to the assault and abduction of Mr Lunney. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtKilbride appeared before Longford Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceKilbride was banned from registering any new companies during the suspended sentence. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKilbride is suffering from cancer and begged the judge not to let him die in jail. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherCyril McGuinness died of a heart attack during a police raid on his home in the UK in 2019. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKilbride sold TJO Developments for €3,000 in the spring of 2017. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKilbride served three times as a Fine Gael councillor in Co Longford, elected in 1999, 2004 and 2009, and is a former mayor of Longford. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherKilbride is a musician, music manager and presenter of a country music programme on Shannonside Radio. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Jul2024
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Former Fine Gael politician sentenced to three years for laundering cash for Cyril ‘Dublin Jimmy’ McGuinness

    Sentencing report. Judge Kenneth Connolly imposed 4½ years (reduced from a headline six years) and suspended the final 15 months citing Kilbride's cancer. Kilbride was also banned from registering new companies during the suspended term.

    convicted, Frank Kilbride, 70, male, named, irish (judged from name)Frank Kilbride