Businesswoman and former Ireland hockey international Catriona Carey has been sent forward for trial on money laundering charges.
The financial advisor appeared before Judge Treasa Kelly at Dublin District Court on Friday with co-defendants Paddy Maher, 57, and 47-year-old John Steadmond.
It follows a probe by the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (GNECB), which received authorisation from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to charge the trio in December with multiple offences.
The DPP has directed “trial on indictment” at a higher level with broader sentencing powers.
After noting that books of evidence had been served on them in the courtroom, Judge Kelly granted return-for-trial orders.
She informed them that she was sending them forward to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where the case will be listed for mention on March 20th.
They must notify gardaí if they plan on using alibi evidence, and the judge also directed gardaí to provide defence lawyers with copies of interview videos.
They have yet to enter pleas, but GNECB detectives told an earlier hearing that they made no reply when charged. All three remain on €500 bail subject to conditions.
Ms Carey, 46, is from Kilkenny but has an address at Rochford Manor, Graigecullen, Co Carlow.
She faces three counts under section seven of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act 2010. These alleged offences were said to have been committed over three successive years, from 2019 to 2021.
It is alleged that over each 12-month period, she engaged “in converting/transferring/handling/acquiring/possessing/using property that is the proceeds of criminal conduct”.
According to the charges, the funds were credit balances in a single bank account with a specified IBAN, “held in the name of Careysfort Asset Estates Ltd at Wise Europe SA while knowing or believing, or being reckless as to whether the property was the proceeds of criminal conduct”.
The sums allegedly involved have not been stated in the court documents or during the oral evidence given in court so far.
Co-defendants Paddy Maher, of Glenmalure Gun Club, Co Wicklow, and John Steadmond, with an address at Rossminogue, Craanford, Gorey, Co Wexford, are accused of connected offences.
They are accused of acting unlawfully as solicitors while not being qualified from July 2019 to February 2022.
Mr Steadmond faces 17 other charges for offences over the same period, for deception where it is claimed he induced 21 people to pay a deposit, having falsely represented that Careysfort Asset Estates was in a position to secure finance for distressed mortgage holders and that the deposit paid was refundable, with the intention of making a gain or causing a loss to another.
Paddy Maher has another 23 similar fraud charges for deception by inducing people to pay a deposit having falsely represented that Careysfort Asset Estates was in a position to secure finance for distressed mortgage holders.
Bail conditions compel them to sign on regularly at garda stations, notify of any address changes, remain contactable by phone, give 21 days’ notice if they intend to leave the State and not contact any prosecution witness.
In December, the court had ordered Ms Carey to sign on at Kilkenny Station rather than the local one in Castlecomer. However, on Friday, that was switched. Her solicitor, Katie Dowling, explained her client had to cycle 50 minutes each way in the bad weather.
They were all granted legal aid to include senior counsel representation due to the seriousness of the case. Solicitor Tony Collier, for the two men, cited “the nature and volume of the charges”. Ms Carey’s solicitor, Katie Dowling, asked the judge to note the “severity” of her client’s case.
The former inter-county Kilkenny camogie player spoke once, whispering “okay” when asked if she understood the procedure.
At their first hearing, Ms Carey was described by her legal representative as “A lady of means previously; however, she’s currently not.”
She is due back in court later to be served with another book of evidence with separate charges for breaching company law.
