Sunday 1 November 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. 14732Money laundering (proceeds of crime from Covid PUP payment) · Co. Longford

Woman fined €500 for money laundering at Longford District Court

During the Covid pandemic, Andrea Kalejova, a 34-year-old woman from Waterford, allegedly allowed her bank account to be used by her brother and step brother, who are not resident in Ireland, to receive a Pandemic Unemployment Payment of €350. She was charged with 24 counts of money laundering relating to 12 different dates, with an alleged loss to the State of €6,048. Kalejova made full admissions to gardaí and pleaded guilty to all 24 charges at Longford District Court in February 2024. In January 2025, Judge Bernadette Owens convicted her on two counts, fined her €500 in total, took the remaining 22 charges into consideration, and noted that €3,000 had been repaid to the State.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court3 Mar
    3 reports
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced31 Jan
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Kalejova allegedly allowed her bank account to be used by her brother and step brother, who are not resident in Ireland, to receive a PUP payment of €350 during the Covid pandemic.
Where
The case was heard at Longford District Court.
When
The 24 charges relate to 12 different dates during the pandemic, and the case ran from a jurisdiction hearing in March 2023 to sentencing in January 2025.
Charges
She faced 24 charges of converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using proceeds of crime while knowing the property was proceeds of criminal conduct.
Investigation
The investigating Garda is based in Wexford, and Kalejova made full admissions to gardaí at an early stage of the investigation.
In court
Judge Bernadette Owens adjourned the jurisdiction hearing in March 2023 to 16 May 2023, and in February 2024 fixed compensation at €3,000 and adjourned the matter to 2 July 2024.
Sentence
In January 2025, Judge Owens convicted Kalejova on two counts with a €250 fine on each, took the remaining 22 charges into consideration, and imposed a total fine of €500.
Other details
  • The alleged loss to the State was €6,048, of which €3,000 was repaid.
  • The defence stated Kalejova got no benefit from the payments and merely assisted by making her bank account available, saving €50 per week from her social welfare to repay the money.
  • An interpreter was required for court hearings, and Kalejova's age is reported as 34 in most accounts and 36 in one.
34 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatShe allowed her bank account to be used by her brother and step brother who are not resident in Ireland to receive a PUP payment (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe money was lodged in her account after the application was made online (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe defendant is Andrea Kalejova, aged 34, of 45 The Glen, Waterford, County Waterford (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatMs Kalejova allegedly allowed her bank account to be used by her brother and step brother, who are not resident in Ireland, to receive a PUP payment during the Covid pandemic (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatAndrea Kalejova, 34, of 45 The Glen, Waterford, was facing 24 charges of money laundering. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe charges related to converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using the proceeds of crime, specifically a PUP payment of €350. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe 24 charges relate to different dates. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatKalejova allowed her bank account to be used by her brother and step brother, who are not resident in the country, to receive a PUP payment during the pandemic. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatThe loss to the State was €6,048. (longfordleader.ie)
  • whatKalejova allowed her bank account to be used by her brother and step brother to receive a PUP payment during the pandemic. (longfordleader.ie)
  • investigationThe Garda investigating the incident is based in Wexford (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationKalejova made full admissions to gardaí at an early stage of the investigation. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeThe defendant is facing 24 charges (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeThe 24 charges relate to 12 different dates (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeShe is accused of converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using proceeds of crime (a PUP payment of €350) (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeThe defendant is accused of converting, transferring, handling, acquiring, possessing or using proceeds of crime (a PUP of €350) while knowing the property was proceeds of criminal conduct (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeKalejova pleaded guilty to money laundering connected to a Covid-19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeThe charge was handling the proceeds of crime, a Covid-19 PUP payment of €350, while knowing it was proceeds of criminal conduct. (longfordleader.ie)
  • chargeThere were 24 charges, relating to different dates. (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtJudge Owens adjourned the matter to 16 May 2023 (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtA Czech interpreter will attend the next court hearing (longfordleader.ie)
  • courtJudge Bernadette Owens adjourned the matter to 16 May 2023 to allow the investigating Garda to be present (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtA Czech interpreter will also attend court on the adjourned date (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtSolicitor John Quinn agreed with Judge Owens that clarification on who was the benefactor of the money was at the heart of the case (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtJudge Owens stated she needs to know who is the mastermind behind the scheme for the purpose of jurisdiction (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge fixed compensation at €3,000 and adjourned the matter to 2 July for the balance. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Owens convicted Kalejova on two counts, imposing €250 on each, and took the remaining 22 charges into consideration. (longfordleader.ie)
  • sentenceKalejova was fined €500 at Longford District Court. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe alleged loss to the State was €6,048 (longfordleader.ie, offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherSergeant Enda Daly agreed with the defence that Kalejova got no benefit from the payments and merely assisted by making her bank account available. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe defence said Kalejova had saved €50 per week from her social welfare and had accrued €1,500 in compensation. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe loss to the State was €6,048, and the defendant had repaid €3,000. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherThe court was told Kalejova got little benefit from the payments and was not involved in setting up the application. (longfordleader.ie)
  • otherHer solicitor said she saved €50 per week from her social welfare to repay the money. (longfordleader.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 31 Jan2025
    Sentencedlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    Woman caught up in Covid payment fraud fined €500 at Longford District Court

    Reports the court outcome: guilty plea to 24 charges, two counts convicted with €250 fines each, €500 total fine, loss of €6,048 to the State, and €3,000 repaid. Gives the defendant's age, sex and address, and says her bank account was used by a brother and step brother who are not resident in Ireland.

    convicted, Andrea Kalejova, 36, female, namedAndrea Kalejova
  2. 28 Feb2024
    In courtlongfordleader.ie, follow-up
    Woman pleads guilty in Longford court to laundering €6,000 in PUP payments

    Court appearance where Kalejova pleaded guilty to all 24 charges; Judge Owens fixed compensation at €3,000 and adjourned to 2 July 2024 for the balance.

    accused, Andrea Kalejova, 34, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Andrea Kalejova
  3. 4 Mar2023
    In courtoffalyexpress.ie, its first report
    Woman accused of laundering PUP payments appears in court in the Midlands

    Reports on the jurisdiction hearing at Longford District Court where Judge Owens adjourned the case to 16 May 2023, noting the need to identify the mastermind and that a Czech interpreter would attend. Confirms 24 charges across 12 dates, alleged loss of €6,048, and that the investigating Garda is based in Wexford.

    accused, Andrea Kalejova, 34, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Andrea Kalejova
  4. 3 Mar2023
    In courtlongfordleader.ie, first report
    Woman accused of laundering PUP payments appears in Longford court

    Jurisdiction hearing adjourned to 16 May 2023; alleged loss to the State was €6,048; 24 charges relate to 12 different dates; a Czech interpreter will attend the next hearing.

    accused, Andrea Kalejova, 34, female, named, non-irish (judged from name)Andrea Kalejova