Ex-pupil of Limerick fee paying school who gambled over €500,000 escapes conviction for money-mule offence

AN EX-PUPIL of a Limerick fee paying secondary school who turned over an estimated €500,000 in bets on his smart-phone arising from his “chronic gambling addiction” has escaped a conviction for a “money mule” offence.

At Killaloe District Court sitting in Ennis this Tuesday, Judge Alec Gabbett dismissed the case against Marcus Ryan, aged 24, after commenting that Mr Ryan has  completed a programme dealing with his gambling “very successfully and that is why I am dismissing the case on its own merits”.

Judge Gabbett said that Mr Ryan has also completed a Restorative Justice Programme and his gambling addiction is no longer an issue.

Judge Gabbett said that over the past two and a half years before the court, Mr Ryan has completed three Probation Reports which say that he has a very low risk of re-offending.

Solicitor, Daragh Hassett for the accused outlined to the court the various actions his client has completed in dealing with his gambling.

Mr Ryan was last before the court concerning the case in March 2024 and Judge Gabbett adjourned the case to today to monitor Mr Ryan’s progress and Mr Hassett said: “He has been working very hard on his recovery since you saw him last judge."

Mr Hassett said that Mr Ryan wishes to travel with his work as a landscape gardener commenting that his client still has a blocking app on his phone to stop him gambling.

Previously Mr Hassett  told the court that the background to his client’s “money-mule” offence was Mr Ryan getting into debt arising from his “severe gambling addiction".

Mr Hassett said that Mr Ryan "was gambling large sums. He estimates he turned over €500,000 in bets. At one stage, he was up €20,000, then down €20,000”. 

Mr Hassett said that Mr Ryan’s "smart phone was turning over those figures. He was gambling on everything”.

Mr Hassett said that Mr Ryan owed money due to his "chronic gambling addiction” and “took the bait” when he received an anonymous Snapchat allowing another individual to use his bank account.

In the case, Mr Ryan of Lakelands, Cullenagh, Ballina, Co Tipperary had pleaded guilty that on February 23rd 2022  at AIB bank, Royal Parade, Killaloe that he did engage in possessing property that was the proceeds of criminal conduct, €10,000 into the AIB bank account in his own name while being reckless as to whether or not the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct.

The charge was contrary to Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010.

Sgt John Jenks previously told the court that Mr Ryan provided his bank card and PIN number to an unknown male to allow the man transfer money into his account and it was then withdrawn in denominations in Dublin. 

Sgt Jenks said that "the person involved has not been identified. He was observed on CCTV but was highly disguised" 

Sgt Jenks said Mr Ryan met him by appointment in January 2023 at Killaloe Garda Station "and he made full admissions in relation to the bank account”. 

Sgt Jenks said that Mr Ryan "comes from a good family and when he was approached he put his hands up and he was very co-operative".

Sgt Jenks said that Mr Ryan "benefited to the tune of €900” and has no previous convictions.

Judge Gabbett said that "these cases always terrify me - just look at the title of the Act, the Money Laundering the Terrorist Financing Act".

Mr Hassett said it is "a frightening case”.

He said: “Mr Ryan went to a very good school and had a great start in life. His parents sent him to Villiers secondary school in Limerick. He has struggled with ADHD and wouldn’t be unique there.

Mr Hassett said that Mr Ryan found an outlet in sports and played inter-provincial hockey for Munster.

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Judge Gabbett said that a gambling addiction "is the most difficult of all the addictions - it is a hidden one. If you are an alcoholic or a drug addict, inevitably it will show on the outside and eventually you will fall over”.

Mr Hassett previously said that Mr Ryan "is a very bright young man. He is disgusted and embarrassed to be here”.

Mr Hassett said that his client doesn’t know where the money was laundered from or from whom.