Mayo court hears student allowed Revolut account to be used for fraud

A 22-year-old man who allowed his Revolut account to be used to launder €5,600 stolen from a Mayo bank account when he was a student was told he was lucky he was not going to jail.

Pierce McCarthy with an address at Millbrook Court, Kilcohan, Waterford appeared before Ballina District Court where he was sentenced after pleading guilty to money laundering when his Revolut account was used to launder €5,600 from the account of a Kiltimagh woman.

The court heard that when Mr McCarthy was an 18-year-old third level student in Waterford, he allowed his Revolut account to be taken over by a third party for €200 and used for illegal activity.

Outlining the facts against Mr McCarthy, Court presenter, Sergeant Conor McShane explained that on February 2, 2022, the injured party received a phone call alleging to be someone contacting her regarding her Amazon Prime subscription.

During the conversation, the injured party was asked to download an app but became uncomfortable and hung up. However, Sgt McShane said she later received a notice from Permanent TSB who informed her of suspicious activity in her account and that €5,600 was transferred.

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On November 15, 2024, Mr McCarthy gave a statement to gardaí in Waterford stating that he was approached by a class mate who he claimed he did not know asking him to surrender his Revolut account details for €200 which was then used for fraud offences.

Judge Vincent Deane

Sgt McShane said that the injured party was reimbursed by her bank for the €5,600 taken from her account but the bank was at a loss.

Gary Mulchrone, solicitor for Mr McCarthy explained that at the time his client who is from Co Kildare had just started college in Waterford where he was studying Business Management. He said he had no money as he was supporting himself through college and Rag Week was approaching.

Judge Vincent Deane was informed that Mr McCarthy was subsequently convicted of possession of drugs for sale and supply and received a suspended prison sentence.

Mr Mulchrone explained that when his client was aged between 18 and 20 years he had 'gone off the rails' and was making bad decisions and had fallen out with his family. Since then he has reconciled with his family and was working as a car sales man and was in a stable relationship.

He said this incident shows how foolish people can be to allow their bank details to be used in such a way. Mr McCarthy, he said, is fully aware that he facilitated this scam and was willing to pay back the money for the loss suffered by the bank.

Mr Mulchrone said the drug offence occurred subsequent to the current offence before the court and reassured Judge Deane his client has moved away from this type of behaviour.

Judge Deane said he could not ignore the fact that Mr McCarthy has a serious drug conviction and is now before the court charged with another very serious offence. He accepted that he has not gotten into trouble since the drug offence and was willing to impose a suspended sentence if he paid money back to the bank.

He agreed to impose an eight month suspended prison sentence on the condition he pays Permanent TSB €2,000.

Judge Deane told Mr McCarthy that he is a very lucky man not to be going to prison given the criminal record he now has and he is giving him a chance to get back on the straight and narrow.