Sunday 1 November 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. 4029Fraud (romance fraud), proceeds of crime · Co. Cork

High Court rules Cork house bought with romance fraud proceeds

Patrick O'Brien (44), a man, allegedly defrauded Pauline Fitzpatrick, a woman, of more than €260,000 between 2012 and 2015 in a romance fraud; she later died of a heart attack. Thomas Humphreys (37), a British man and O'Brien's brother-in-law, purchased a house on Strand Street, Youghal, Co Cork in July 2015 for €25,000. The Criminal Assets Bureau sought a declaration under the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996 that the property was bought with the proceeds of the fraud. In January 2026, Mr Justice Liam Kennedy ruled in favour of the bureau, finding on the balance of probabilities that Humphreys used the proceeds of the romance fraud to purchase the property.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court17 Dec
    4 reports
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Patrick O'Brien (44) allegedly defrauded Pauline Fitzpatrick of more than €260,000 between 2012 and 2015 in a romance fraud.
  • O'Brien sold Fitzpatrick's VW Beetle without her permission.
  • Fitzpatrick later died from a heart attack.
  • Thomas Humphreys (37), a British man and O'Brien's brother-in-law, purchased a house on Strand Street, Youghal, Co Cork in July 2015 for €25,000 or €26,620.
  • Humphreys was convicted in absentia in Australia of a fraud worth over AUD$100,000 and left the country before he could be tried.
  • Humphreys received an insurance payout of about €16,000 in 2014, of which about €5,000 went towards the house purchase.
Where
Humphreys previously lived at Curraigue, Mallow, Co Cork and is now believed to be living in the UK.
Other details
  • Gardaí allege Humphreys is associated with people in the drug trade in Co Kerry and Co Cork, but he has no drug-related convictions.
  • Humphreys has convictions including one for robbery and a range of road traffic offences.
  • The judge found at least €5,000 of the purchase money was legitimately sourced from a personal injury settlement.
In court
  • The Criminal Assets Bureau sought an order under section 3 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996 declaring the property was purchased with proceeds of crime.
  • Mr Justice Liam Kennedy ruled in favour of the bureau in January 2026, finding on the balance of probabilities that Humphreys used the proceeds of the romance fraud to purchase the property.
38 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatPatrick O'Brien allegedly defrauded Pauline Fitzpatrick of more than €260,000 between 2012 and 2015. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatFitzpatrick later died from a heart attack. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHumphreys rents out the property at a monthly rent of €550. (irishtimes.com, corkbeo.ie)
  • whatHumphreys was convicted in absentia in Australia of a fraud worth more than AUD$100,000. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatHumphreys received an insurance payout of about €16,000 in 2014, of which about €5,000 went towards the house purchase. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatPauline Fitzpatrick later died from a heart attack. (irishmirror.ie, corkbeo.ie)
  • whatHumphreys has rented out the property at a monthly rent of €550. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatIn 2018 Humphreys travelled to Australia where he was involved in fraud-related crime involving bogus works at individuals' properties. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHumphreys was convicted in absentia of a fraud worth over AUD$100,000 in Australia. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatGardaí allege Humphreys is associated with people working in the drug trade in Co Kerry and Co Cork. (irishmirror.ie, corkbeo.ie)
  • whatHumphreys has convictions including one for robbery and a range of road traffic offences. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatHumphreys received an insurance payout worth about €16,000 in 2014, of which about €5,000 was put towards the house purchase. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whatPatrick O'Brien allegedly defrauded Pauline Fitzpatrick of over €260,000 between 2012 and 2015. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatO'Brien sold Fitzpatrick's VW Beetle without her permission. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatIn his absence, Humphreys was convicted of a fraud worth over AUD$100,000 in Australia. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatHumphreys has other convictions including one for robbery and a range of road traffic offences. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatHumphreys received an insurance payout of about €16,000 in 2014. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whatThe bureau's case is that at best about €5,000 of the insurance payout was put towards the house purchase. (corkbeo.ie)
  • whereHumphreys was previously at Curraigue, Mallow, Co Cork, but is now believed to be living in the UK. (irishmirror.ie)
  • whereThe property is on Strand Street, Youghal (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe property was purchased in July 2015 for €25,000. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe house was purchased in July 2015 for €26,620 (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe CAB is seeking an order under section 3 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie, corkbeo.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard by Mr Justice Liam Kennedy and adjourned generally. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie)
  • courtMr Justice Liam Kennedy adjourned the case generally. (corkbeo.ie)
  • courtMr Justice Liam Kennedy ruled in favour of the Criminal Assets Bureau under section 3 of the Proceeds of Crime Act (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe Criminal Assets Bureau sought the order in a civil law case (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHumphreys is a British citizen who had resided in Ireland for many years. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie, corkbeo.ie)
  • otherGardaí allege Humphreys is associated with people in the drug trade in Co. Kerry and Co. Cork, but he has no drug-related convictions. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHumphreys has a conviction for robbery and a range of road traffic offences. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHumphreys does not have a history of gainful employment. (irishtimes.com, irishmirror.ie, corkbeo.ie)
  • otherVictims are waiting almost two years to receive justice in crown court. (corkbeo.ie)
  • otherHumphreys left the country before he could be tried in Australia (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHumphreys is 37 and previously lived at Curraigue, Mallow, Co Cork (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHumphreys is now believed to be living in the United Kingdom (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHumphreys left Australia before he could be tried over the romance fraud (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe judge found at least €5,000 of the purchase money was legitimately sourced from a personal injury settlement (irishtimes.com)
  • otherHumphreys and his extended family have been involved in organised crime in Ireland and Australia (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 22 Jan2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Cork property was bought using proceeds of ‘sinister’ romance fraud, court rules

    Reports the High Court's ruling in the CAB's civil proceedings declaring the Youghal property purchased with proceeds of crime, including details of the underlying romance fraud and the defendants' criminal histories in Ireland and Australia.

    accused, Thomas Humphreys, 37, male, named, irish (judged from name)Thomas Humphreyssuspect, 44, male, irish (judged from name)victim, Pauline Fitzpatrick, female, irish (judged from name)Pauline Fitzpatrick
  2. 19 Dec2025
    In courtcorkbeo.ie, first report
    Romance frausters accused of taking funds from vulnerable woman to buy Cork home

    First report of the CAB's High Court application under section 3 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996 to declare Humphreys' Youghal property purchased with fraud proceeds; case adjourned generally.

    accused, Thomas Humphreys, 37, male, British, named, non-irishThomas Humphreysaccused, 44, male, irish (judged from name)victim, Pauline Fitzpatrick, female, irish (judged from name)Pauline Fitzpatrick
  3. 19 Dec2025
    In courtirishmirror.ie, follow-up
    Money from alleged 'sinister' romance fraud used to buy Cork property

    High Court hearing where the CAB sought a declaration under section 3 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 1996; case adjourned generally.

    accused, Thomas Humphreys, 37, male, British, named, non-irishThomas Humphreysaccused, 44, male, irish (judged from name)victim, Pauline Fitzpatrick, female, irish (judged from name)Pauline Fitzpatrick
  4. 17 Dec2025
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Proceeds of alleged romance fraud used to purchase Cork property, court hears

    First report of the CAB's Proceeds of Crime Act 1996 application seeking a declaration that Humphreys's Youghal property was purchased with proceeds of a romance fraud committed by his brother-in-law Patrick O'Brien.

    accused, Thomas Humphreys, 37, male, British, named, non-irishThomas Humphreyssuspect, 44, male, irish (judged from name)victim, Pauline Fitzpatrick, female, irish (judged from name)Pauline Fitzpatrick