Friday 30 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. 14452Possession of proceeds of crime · Co. Donegal · 16 Oct 2020

Man pleads guilty to possessing €7,600 in proceeds of crime

On 16 October 2020, €7,600 was lodged into Ben McGuigan's AIB account in Dublin after a smishing text scam took the money from the account of Ciaran Sweeney, a fraud victim in Donegal. McGuigan, a 25-year-old man, was charged with one count of possessing proceeds of criminal conduct and pleaded guilty at Letterkenny Circuit Court. The judge found neither of McGuigan's accounts to gardaí credible and reduced a three-year sentence to two and a half years. The latest development, reported in February 2025, is that the case was adjourned for 12 months so McGuigan can repay €7,600 to AIB, after which the judge will consider a suspended sentence.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced23 Feb
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Ben McGuigan, a 25-year-old man, pleaded guilty to having proceeds of crime to the value of €7,600.
Where
The money was taken from the account of fraud victim Ciaran Sweeney in Donegal and transferred to McGuigan's AIB account in Dublin.
When
The offence is dated to 16 October 2020.
Cause
The €7,600 was lodged into McGuigan's account after a smishing text scam.
Investigation
  • Gardaí studied CCTV of the transactions but had not identified the people involved.
  • Garda Sergeant Maurice Doyle found McGuigan to be very sketchy and evasive, and McGuigan declined to make a formal statement.
Other details
  • McGuigan first said he had lost his card, then told gardaí he had been mugged by a gang of five men and forced to hand over his bank card and PIN.
  • The case was reported by Donegal Live on 24 February 2025.
Charges
McGuigan was charged with one count of being in possession of property that was the proceeds of criminal conduct.
In court
  • The case was heard at Letterkenny Circuit Court.
  • The judge said neither account McGuigan gave to gardaí was credible.
Sentence
  • The judge set the sentence at three years before mitigation and reduced it to two and a half years.
  • The case was adjourned for 12 months to allow McGuigan to repay €7,600 to AIB, after which the judge will consider a suspended sentence.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatBen McGuigan pleaded guilty to having proceeds of crime to the value of €7,600. (donegallive.ie)
  • whatThe money was taken from the account of fraud victim Ciaran Sweeney in Donegal and transferred to McGuigan's account in Dublin. (donegallive.ie)
  • whereThe case was heard at Letterkenny Circuit Court. (donegallive.ie)
  • whenThe offence is dated to October 16, 2020. (donegallive.ie)
  • causeThe €7,600 was lodged into McGuigan's account after a smishing text scam. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGardaí studied CCTV of the transactions but had not identified the people involved. (donegallive.ie)
  • investigationGarda Sergeant Maurice Doyle found McGuigan to be very sketchy and evasive, and McGuigan declined to make a formal statement. (donegallive.ie)
  • chargeMcGuigan was charged with one count of being in possession of property that was the proceeds of criminal conduct. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge said neither account McGuigan gave to gardaí was credible. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge put the sentence at three years before mitigation and reduced it to two and a half years. (donegallive.ie)
  • sentenceThe case was adjourned for 12 months to allow McGuigan to repay €7,600 to AIB, after which the judge will consider a suspended sentence. (donegallive.ie)
  • otherMcGuigan first said he had lost his card, then told gardaí he had been mugged by a gang of five men and forced to hand over his bank card and PIN. (donegallive.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 23 Feb2025
    Sentenceddonegallive.ie, first report
    Man on money laundering charge claimed to Donegal gardai he was mugged

    Reports the guilty plea, the sentence of two and a half years, and the 12-month adjournment to allow repayment before a suspended sentence is considered. Gives McGuigan's account that he was mugged, which the judge found not credible, and the Garda view that he allowed the gang to use his account.

    convicted, Ben McGuigan, 25, male, named, irish (judged from name)Ben McGuiganvictim, Ciaran Sweeney, male, irish (judged from name)Ciaran Sweeney