Thursday 29 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. 10037Money laundering · Co. Laois · 28 Jun 2024

Stradbally woman given probation over money mule case

Ava Malone, 25, of Stradbally, Co. Laois, was accused of money laundering €1,433 at a location within the State on 28 June 2024, after a third party contacted her online and she gave her bank details. She cooperated with gardaí, and the injured party was reimbursed. The case was reported in April 2026 at Portlaoise District Court, where the defence said she had been exploited and was at low risk of reoffending. The latest development is that the judge applied the Probation Act after a positive probation report.

  1. Reported
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Ava Malone, 25, of Stradbally, was accused of money laundering €1,433.
Where
  • The offence took place at a location within the State.
  • The case was heard at Portlaoise District Court.
When
  • The offence is dated 28 June 2024.
  • The case was reported as published on 17 April 2026 in the article metadata and on 19 April 2026 in the article text.
Cause
A third party contacted her online and she gave her bank details.
Investigation
She cooperated with gardaí.
Other details
  • The injured party had been reimbursed.
  • Solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said it was a classic money mule case and that she had been exploited by a third party.
  • The defence said she did not make any money from the offence and was at low risk of reoffending.
In court
The court had a very positive probation report before it.
Sentence
The judge applied the Probation Act.
9 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatAva Malone, 25, of Stradbally, was accused of money laundering €1,433. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whereThe case was heard at Portlaoise District Court. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • whenThe offence is dated 28 June 2024. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • causeA third party contacted her online and she gave her bank details. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • investigationThe woman cooperated with gardaí. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge applied the Probation Act. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe injured party had been reimbursed. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defence said she was at low risk of reoffending. (leinsterexpress.ie)
  • otherThe defence said she did not make any money from the offence. (leinsterexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 17 Apr2026
    Otherleinsterexpress.ie, first report
    ‘Classic money mule’ case before Portlaoise court

    First report of the case. The court applied the Probation Act after a positive probation report, and the solicitor said the woman was exploited by a third party.

    accused, Ava Malone, 25, female, named, irish (judged from name)Ava Malone