Woman was "puppet" to abusive partner in email scam, court hears

A 29-year-old woman from Tallaght pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to money laundering following an email fraud scheme that targeted a Cavan-based hardware company. The court heard that €34,587 was fraudulently diverted into her bank account in September 2017 after criminals altered invoice details sent to General Hardware Supplies Limited. The woman withdrew the funds and transferred portions to her abusive former partner as instructed, then deposited the remainder into her Tallaght credit union account. A detective described her as a "puppet" in the scheme, confirming she played no role in initiating the email scam. Evidence presented detailed a pattern of domestic violence during her relationship. Judge Pauline Codd imposed an eighteen-month custodial sentence, suspended in full, citing the guilty plea, the woman's vulnerability, and the controlling nature of her former partner's conduct toward her.