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. 6984Fraud · Co. Dublin

Owner of English language college agency pleads guilty to defrauding 18 students

Raul Rodriguez Ramirez, a 36-year-old man, owned an agency that helped foreign language students enrol in English language schools in Dublin. He set the agency up in 2018 and it operated legitimately until 2020, when he began taking students' payments on a fraudulent basis and invested the money in a restaurant that failed during the pandemic. Gardaí contacted him in October 2022 after learning he was back in Ireland, and he made full admissions in a garda interview. At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court he pleaded guilty to inducing 18 students to pay him money, causing them to lose almost €30,000 in total. Judge Orla Crowe adjourned sentencing for one week so he could finish gathering funds to repay the students.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court4 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 money with intent to make a gain for himself.
  • The students lost almost €30,000 in total, with individual losses of between €1,100 and €3,800 according to victim impact statements.
Where
The agency acted as an intermediary for students wanting to study at English language schools in Dublin.
When
  • The agency was set up in 2018 and operated legitimately until 2020.
  • Ramirez began taking payments from the victims on a fraudulent basis in 2020.
Cause
Ramirez used the students' money to invest in a restaurant business, which failed during the pandemic, instead of booking their courses.
Other details
  • Some students had to pay the colleges again directly because they had no place secured.
  • Ramirez made full admissions during a garda interview.
Investigation
Gardaí contacted Ramirez in October 2022 after learning he was back in Ireland.
In court
The case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Sentence
Judge Orla Crowe adjourned sentencing for one week so Ramirez could finalise gathering funds to repay the students.
10 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatRamirez pleaded guilty to inducing 18 foreign language students to pay money with intent to make a gain for himself. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe students lost almost €30,000 in total. (irishtimes.com)
  • whereThe agency acted as an intermediary for students wanting to study at English language schools in Dublin. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe agency was set up in 2018 and operated legitimately until 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenRamirez began taking payments from the victims on a fraudulent basis in 2020. (irishtimes.com)
  • causeRamirez used the students' money to invest in a restaurant business, which failed during the pandemic. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí contacted Ramirez in October 2022 after learning he was back in Ireland. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceJudge Orla Crowe adjourned sentencing for one week so Ramirez could finalise gathering funds to repay the students. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherRamirez made full admissions during a garda interview. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 4 Dec2023
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Owner of English language college agency defrauded students of almost €30,000, court hears

    Reports the guilty plea, the total loss of almost €30,000, the restaurant investment, the adjournment of sentencing and the garda interview. No earlier report of this case is in the list.

    accused, Raul Rodriguez Ramirez, 36, male, namedRaul Rodriguez Ramirez