Laois money mule admitted she was “stupid” to hand over her bank details

A woman who told gardaí she was “being stupid” when she agreed to hand out her bank details to an unknown individual on snapchat. 

Shannon Comerford (22) of 93 Kirwan Park, Mountmellick admitted to three counts of money laundering involving sums of €250, €940 and €1,000 from AIB in Portlaoise on January 20, 2021. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said there had been a “large scale AIB scam online” around that time and sums of €250, €940 and €1,000 were transferred to an account belonging to the accused. 

He said the defendant had admitted providing her banking details to an unknown party during garda interviews. 

“Gardaí are not of the view that she was responsible for the theft or deception,” he said. 

Sgt Kirby told the sitting of Portlaoise District Court that the woman had no previous convictions. 

“Effectively she was one of a money mule,” said Sgt Kirby. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick agreed that her client had been used as a money mule. She said during interviews the woman had explained that someone had messaged her on snapchat offering to double the money in her bank account which was around €30 at the time. 

“Me being stupid I put them in. I didn’t think about it at the time,” the woman told interviewing gardaí. 

Ms Fitzpatrick said the woman was then frozen out of the bank account as sums of money were moving in and out of her account. 

“She was only 18 years old at the time,” said Ms  Fitzpatrick. 

She said the woman had worked in social care for four years but has now moved to Northern Ireland where she is working as a trainee transport manager. 

Judge Susan Fay described them as serious charges. She intended to refer the woman to the probation services but there was an issue as the woman no longer resides in the jurisdiction. 

Sgt Kirby said €1,000 had been recovered by the bank following the incident. 

Ms Fitzgerald said her client had €250 in court with her which could be handed in. She said the balance due would be €940. 

Judge Fay remanded the defendant on bail to June 9 in order for an update in relation to the compensation of €940 for the AIB.