Laois woman spared jail for her role in obtaining fake passport for her husband

A FATHER who was a “cog” in the machine for obtaining a fake passport for his on-the-run son has been jailed for two years, while his daughter-in-law was spared a custodial sentence.

Andrew Cash Senior (58) of Whitechurch Heights, Rathfarnham, Dublin 16 and Mary Cash (35), formerly of Harpurs Lane, Portlaoise, Co. Laois, both pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to providing the Irish Passport Services with information or documents that were known to be false or misleading on June 12, 2019 at the Balbriggan Passport Services office.

Detective Sergeant Padraig Jennings told Shaun Smyth BL, prosecuting, that red flags were raised within the passport office when an application for a passport in the name of Martin Connors was requested. Personnel in the office were unsure whether the submitted pictures matched the applicant.

The court heard that the passport office used software to check the passport images and found that they belonged to Andrew Cash Junior, the son of Cash Snr and husband of Mary Cash. The matter was then referred to the gardaí, and an investigation took place.

During the investigation, gardaí noted that the passport pictures and application form had been stamped by a senior member of the gardaí, who then became the focal point of the investigation.

Det Sgt Jennings told the court that a relationship between this member of the gardaí and Cash Snr was discovered, and devices seized showed communication between the two, including communication on the morning that the passport pictures and application were stamped.

The senior garda, who cannot be named as he is before the courts, had also accessed the Garda Pulse database in relation to the Cash family. The court heard that the senior garda had also “interceded” on behalf of Cash Jnr, who had a number of outstanding bench warrants at the time, and they were executed in a “benign manner”.

Andrew Cash Jnr is also wanted by the gardaí, and a warrant is out for his arrest as he has fled the jurisdiction.

Cash Snr was arrested, detained, interviewed and entered a guilty plea in advance of his trial date.

The court heard that Mary Cash travelled to Sligo and used a false name, 'Mary Connor', and an address to obtain the birth certificate of Martin Connors. The garda investigation could place Cash in Sligo on the day that the birth certificate was obtained, and gardaí also found a text message from Cash to her husband saying, “Got it”. She was arrested, detained and interviewed in November 2019.

Cash Snr has 31 prior convictions, including six from the Circuit Court. Mary Cash has ten previous convictions, three of which are from the Circuit Court for money laundering. The maximum sentence available to the court is 10 years.

Timothy O’Leary SC, defending Cash Snr, said his client has amassed no convictions since 2020. He said he has been married for over 40 years and has seven children. He said Cash Snr is a settled Traveller who grew up in a physically abusive home and suffers from PTSD.

Counsel said Cash Snr was a “cog in the wheel” but does not want to make any excuses for his actions. He asked the court to be as lenient as possible.

Coleman Fitzgerald SC, defending Mary Cash, said she married into the Cash family but is now separated from her husband since 2024. He said that due to tragic circumstances, she cares for her deceased sister's three children, along with her own three children.

Counsel said that her role was small within a larger criminal enterprise and that she was doing what her husband had asked her to do. He said she takes full responsibility for her actions.

A letter of apology from Mary Cash was handed in to the court, and she asked the court to allow her to continue her role in caring for the children, citing that she has “considerable responsibilities”.

Passing sentence today, Friday, Judge Roderick Maguire said Cash Senior was a cog in the machine of this offence. He noted that Cash had 31 previous convictions but that he had not come to any garda attention since 2019.

The judge set a headline sentence of four and a half years, which he reduced after considering mitigating factors including his guilty plea, his difficult life, and the self-improvement efforts he has made. He reduced the sentences to one of three years and suspended the final 12 months for 12 months post-release.

Regarding Mary Cash, the judge said she had a more minor role in the offence and that she felt obliged to do what her husband had asked of her.

Judge Maguire set a headline sentence of three years and said he had taken into consideration all the documents handed into court on Ms Cash’s behalf and her guilty plea. He sentenced her to two and a half years in prison, which he suspended in full for two and a half years.

Judge Maguire noted that Ms Cash was an exceptional mother and aunt.