A FORMER pupil of a fee-paying secondary school in Limerick has turned over an estimated €500,000 in bets from his smartphone arising from his ‘chronic gambling addiction’, a court has heard.

At Killaloe District Court sitting in Ennis, solicitor, Daragh Hassett for Marcus Ryan told the court that the background to his client’s ‘money-mule’ offence was his client getting into debt arising from his “severe gambling addiction”.

Mr Hassett said the 22-year-old was gambling large sums. “He estimates he turned over €500,000 in bets. At one stage, he was up €20,000, then down €20,000.”

Mr Hassett said that Mr Ryan’s “smartphone was turning over those figures. He was gambling on everything”.

The solicitor added that Mr Ryan owed money due to his ‘chronic gambling addiction” and that he “took the bait” when he received an anonymous Snapchat allowing another individual to use his bank account.

In the case, Mr Ryan, aged 22, of Lakelands, Cullenagh, Balli na, County Tipperary has pleaded guilty that on February 23, 2022 at AIB bank, Royal Parade, Killaloe that he did engage in possessing property that was the proceeds of criminal conduct, €10,000 into the AIB bank account in his own name while being reckless as to whether or not the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct.

The charge is contrary to Section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010.

Sergeant John Jenks told the court that Mr Ryan provided his bank card and PIN number to an unknown male to allow the man transfer money into his account and it was then withdrawn in different denominations in Dublin. 

Sgt Jenks said: “The person involved has not been identified. He was observed on CCTV but was highly disguised.” 

He told the court that Mr Ryan met him by appointment in January 2023 at Killaloe garda station and that he made full admissions in relation to the bank account. 

Sgt Jenks said Mr Ryan “comes from a good family and when he was approached he put his hands up and he was very co-operative”.

He told the court Mr Ryan “benefited to the tune of €900” and has no previous convictions.

Judge Alec Gabbett commented: “These cases always terrify me – just look at the title of the Act, the Money Laundering the Terrorist Financing Act”.

Mr Hassett said it is “a frightening case” adding: “Mr Ryan went to a very good school and had a great start in life. His parents sent him to Villiers secondary school in Limerick. He has struggled with ADHD and wouldn’t be unique there.”

Mr Hassett said that Mr Ryan found an outlet in sports and played inter-provincial hockey for Munster.

“He has put a lot of work into his recovery,” he said, adding his client has not placed a bet in the last 13 months. 

Mr Hassett told Judge Gabbett that Mr Ryan has an App on his phone that acts as a blocker to prevent him downloading an online gambling account.

The judge said a gambling addiction “is the most difficult of all the addictions – it is a hidden one. If you are an alcoholic or a drug addict, inevitably it will show on the outside and eventually you will fall over.”

Urging leniency, Mr Hassett said Mr Ryan “is a very bright young man. He is disgusted and embarrassed to be here”.

He told the court that Mr Ryan had €1,000 in court by way of restitution. “He is working as a landscape gardener for a family member. He is committed to staying away from gambling”. 

Mr Hassett said that his client doesn’t know where the money was laundered from or from whom.

Judge Gabbett said that he wanted Mr Ryan to maintain the progress in his recovery and adjourned the case to March for an updated Probation Report.