Ireland Man charged with money laundering over romance fraud in Dublin
A woman reported to Gardaí in late 2024 that she had been defrauded of a significant amount of cash over several months in a romance fraud. Paul Barnwell, a Dublin man in his 30s, was arrested at Dublin Airport on 27 February 2025 by Gardaí from Dundalk, Co Louth, and about €236,000 in alleged crime proceeds and a money-counting machine were uncovered during the investigation. He was charged with money laundering offences and a connected charge under section 183 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 for possessing articles intended for use in a crime. He was granted €5,000 bail at Dublin District Court with conditions including a night curfew and the surrender of his passport, made no reply to the charges, and was remanded to appear again the following week.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrested27 Feb
4 reports - Chargednot reported
- In court27 Feb
- Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- A woman alleged she had been defrauded of a significant amount of cash over several months in a romance fraud.
- Where
- The man was arrested at Dublin Airport by Gardaí from Dundalk, Co Louth.
- When
- The matter was reported to Gardaí in late 2024 and the arrest took place on 27 February 2025.
- Investigation
- The man was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 at a station in the Garda North Western Region.
- About €236,000 in alleged crime proceeds and a money-counting machine were uncovered during the investigation.
- Charges
- He was charged with money laundering offences and a connected charge under section 183 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 for possessing articles intended for use in a crime.
- In court
- He was granted €5,000 bail at Dublin District Court, made no reply to the charges, and was remanded to appear again the following week.
- Other details
- Bail conditions include an 11pm to 7am curfew at a new address, surrender of his passport, and signing on three days a week at a Garda station in Dublin.
- More than €7 million has been stolen from victims of romance fraud since 2020, with over 245 victims coming forward and an average loss of €28,500.
38 statements extracted from the articles
- whatGardaí in Co Louth arrested a man on 27 February 2025 as part of a romance fraud investigation (garda.ie)
- whatA woman alleged she had been defrauded of a significant amount of cash over a number of months (garda.ie)
- whatThe man is in his 30s (garda.ie)
- whatA man has been accused of possessing over €230,000 in suspected crime proceeds and a money-counting machine. (thejournal.ie)
- whatA woman reported that she had been defrauded of a significant amount of cash over a number of months. (rte.ie)
- whatA man was arrested at Dublin Airport in connection with an alleged romance fraud. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatA woman alleged she had been defrauded of a significant amount of cash over a number of months late last year. (dublinlive.ie)
- whatA man in his 30s was arrested at Dublin Airport on Thursday 27 February 2025. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatA woman reported to Gardaí late in 2024 that she had been defrauded of a significant amount of cash over several months. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereGardaí from Dundalk arrested the man at Dublin Airport (garda.ie)
- whereThe man was arrested at Dublin Airport. (rte.ie)
- whenThe matter was reported to Gardaí late last year (garda.ie, dublinlive.ie)
- whenThe woman reported the fraud to gardaí late last year. (rte.ie)
- whenThe arrest took place on Thursday, 27 February 2025. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationHe was detained at a station in the Garda North Western Region under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 (garda.ie)
- investigationAbout €236,000 in alleged crime proceeds was uncovered during the investigation. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationA man was arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into romance fraud. (rte.ie)
- investigationOfficers from Dundalk, Co Louth, made the arrest. (rte.ie)
- investigationGardaí from Dundalk were investigating the incident and arrested the man. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe man was detained at a station in the Garda North Western Region. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationThe man was detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984. (dublinlive.ie)
- investigationHe was detained at a Garda station in the North Western Region. (irishmirror.ie)
- investigationGardaí from Dundalk made the arrest as part of their ongoing romance fraud investigation. (irishmirror.ie)
- chargeHe was charged with money laundering offences at his address in 2024. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeHe also faced a connected charge under section 183 of the Criminal Justice Act 2006 for possessing articles intended for use in a crime. (thejournal.ie)
- courtHe was granted €5,000 bail at Dublin District Court. (thejournal.ie)
- courtHe made no reply to the charges. (thejournal.ie)
- courtThe judge heard he had no bench warrant record. (thejournal.ie)
- courtHe has yet to indicate a plea and was remanded to appear again the following week. (thejournal.ie)
- otherHe must obey an 11pm to 7am curfew at a new address, except when working. (thejournal.ie)
- otherHe must not apply for new travel documents, having surrendered his passport to gardaí. (thejournal.ie)
- otherHe must sign on three days a week at a Garda station in Dublin. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe man is being detained at a station in the Garda North Western Region. (rte.ie)
- otherMore than €7 million has been stolen from victims of romance fraud since 2020. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherMore than 245 victims have come forward over the past five years, the majority of whom were female. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe average loss per victim was €28,500. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe highest reported loss was a woman who had over €450,000 stolen in 18 transactions. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherA man had more than €380,000 taken in a romance fraud case. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 28 Feb2025Man arrested at Dublin Airport as part of romance fraud investigation
Initial arrest report; no charges, court date or further details provided.
suspect, 30s, malevictim, female - 27 Feb2025Man arrested at Dublin Airport over alleged romance fraud
Provides the official Garda spokesperson statement confirming the arrest, the specific legal section (Section 4, Criminal Justice Act 1984) under which the man was detained, and that the matter was reported to Gardaí late last year.
victim, femalesuspect, 30s, male - 27 Feb2025Arrest made in romance fraud investigation
First report of the arrest. Adds that officers from Dundalk, Co Louth, made the arrest at Dublin Airport and that the man is being detained in the Garda North Western Region.
victim, femalesuspect, 30s, male - 27 Feb2025Man arrested with €230,000 in suspected crime earnings and a 'money-counting machine', court hears
First report of the bail hearing. Adds the charge details, the €5,000 bail with a night curfew, the surrender of his passport, and the sum of €236,000 uncovered during the investigation.
accused, Paul Barnwell, 38, male, named, irish (judged from name)Paul Barnwell - 27 Feb2025Arrest: Investigation into romance fraud Dundalk, Co Louth, Thursday 27th February, 2025
Official Garda press release confirming the arrest details for the same incident.
victim, femalesuspect, 30s, male