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. 6956Fraud (inducing students to pay money with intent to gain) · Co. Dublin

Owner of Dublin English language course agency given extra time to repay defrauded students

Raul Rodriguez Ramirez, a 36-year-old man, owned an agency that placed students in English language schools in Dublin. He pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to inducing 18 foreign language students to pay money with intent to gain for himself, taking almost €30,000 between June 2020 and June 2021 and investing it in a restaurant business that failed during the pandemic. Gardaí made contact with him in October 2022, and he made full admissions in a Garda interview. At court he had €14,050 and sought more time to repay the balance, the judge was not minded to return his passport, and the case was adjourned until March 21st.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court11 Dec
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Ramirez pleaded guilty to inducing 18 foreign language students to pay sums of money with intent to make a gain for himself.
  • The total taken from the students was €29,042, described in reports as almost €30,000.
  • Each student lost between €1,100 and €3,800.
  • The students' student visas were put at risk because they did not have a secured college place.
Other details
  • The students were from countries including Mexico, Bolivia, Japan and South Korea.
  • Ramirez has no previous convictions, made an apology to his 18 victims in court and said he will repay them. He is originally from Guadalajara and has remained in Ireland since his arrest and charge, relying on friends.
Where
The agency specialised in facilitating students wishing to study at English language schools in Dublin.
When
The offences were committed between June 2020 and June 2021.
Cause
  • Ramirez used the students' money to invest in a restaurant business, which failed during the pandemic, instead of booking their courses.
  • He also used agency money to pay restaurant bills and paid fees for earlier students with money from later students.
Charges
Ramirez was arrested and charged.
Investigation
  • Gardaí became aware Ramirez was back in Ireland in October 2022 and made contact with him.
  • Ramirez made full admissions during a Garda interview.
In court
Ramirez had €14,050 in court and sought more time to gather the balance to repay the students; the judge was not minded to return his passport, and the case was adjourned until March 21st.
18 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatRamirez pleaded guilty to inducing 18 foreign language students to pay sums of money with intent to make a gain for himself. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatRamirez defrauded 18 students of almost €30,000 in total. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe students were at a loss of between €1,100 and €3,800 each. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatStudents' student visas were put at risk because they did not have a secured college place. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe agency specialised in facilitating students wishing to study at English language schools in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offences were committed on dates between June 2020 and June 2021. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeRamirez used the students' money to invest in a restaurant business, which failed during the pandemic, instead of booking their courses. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeRamirez took money from the agency to pay the restaurant bills and used money from later students to pay fees for earlier students. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí became aware Ramirez was back in Ireland in October 2022 and made contact with him. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationRamirez made full admissions during a Garda interview. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtRamirez had €14,050 in court and was seeking more time to gather the balance to reimburse the students. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge was not minded to return Ramirez's passport. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case was adjourned until March 21st. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherRamirez has no previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherRamirez made an apology to his 18 victims in court. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherRamirez is originally from Guadalajara. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherThe students were from countries including Mexico, Bolivia, Japan and South Korea. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherRamirez has remained in Ireland since his arrest and charge, relying on friends. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 11 Dec2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Owner of English language course agency given extra time to reimburse defrauded students

    Court report on a guilty plea and adjournment. The students defrauded were foreign language students, the total involved was €29,042, and Ramirez has made an apology and said he will repay them.

    accused, Raul Rodriguez Ramirez, 36, male, named, non-irish (judged from name)Raul Rodriguez Ramirez