A nurse has pleaded guilty to money laundering offences in relation to over €37,000 that was the proceeds of criminal conduct.
Opeoluwa Lawal was before Letterkenny Circuit Court, where she pleaded guilty to two offences.
A 22-year-old with an address at The Lodge, The Paddocks, Ongar, Dublin, Lawal was arraigned before Judge John Aylmer.
Lawal spoke only to plead guilty to two charges of the possession of property that was the proceeds of criminal conduct, contrary to section 7.1 (a) and (b) and 7.3 of the Criminal Justice (Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing) Act, 2010.
She was charged that, on dates between January 2022 and July 2023, at a place unknown in the State, she was in possession of property that was the proceeds of criminal conduct, namely €15,360, money credited to an AIB bank account in her name while knowing that or being reckless as to whether or not the said property was the proceeds of criminal conduct.
Lawal also faces a similar charge relating to €22,358.63, money credited to a Revolut bank account in her name.
Barrister Ms Dara Foynes SC, with Mr Simon Gillespie, instructed by solicitor Mr Frank Dorrian, appeared for Lawal.
Ms Foynes told the court that her client has not come to adverse attention since the commission of these offences.
“She was perhaps not the main player,” Ms Foynes said. “She was in a relationship at the time.”
Ms Foynes said that Lawal was “moved around a lot” as a child and attended various schools, but has obtained a degree in psychiatric nursing from ATU Donegal in 2024.
Lawal is now employed with an agency as a care assistant.
Ms Foynes said it appeared as if her client had not made any direct financial gain from these activities, which the barrister said were “reckless more than deliberate”.
Judge Aylmer asked that a probation report be prepared and adjourned the matter until July.