Laois woman ‘exploited’ in money laundering scam
Portlaoise Courthouse
A WOMAN who took over €1,400 from another woman’s bank account in an online phishing scam was given the benefit of the Probation Act when she appeared before Portlaoise District Court.
Ava Malone, Oakglen, Stradbally had previously pleaded guilty to the laundering of €1,433 from an AIB bank on 28 June2025.
Ms Malone had been described as a ‘money mule’ when €1,433 had been taken from the Revolut account of a Ms Moore.
Ms Malone claimed that she gave an unnamed male, whom she had met online and had struck up a relationship with, access to her bank account details.
When the case returned to court last week, defending solicitor Barry Fitzgerald said his client: “Had been exploited by a more sinister person who had been in the background. She’s very embarrassed of how it came about and how a third party took advantage of her. She is extremely remorseful. The injured party was reimbursed by the bank.
‘‘The person in the background was part of a bigger scheme. She was simply naive to it and there was an element of foolishness involved. When her bank account details were given to the person in the background, he cut her off and froze her out. She had met somebody online and a relationship developed. He told her that he would give her money to assist her if she gave him her bank details.” Judge Fay ruled as outlined.
