A former hotelier and politician has been sentenced to four-and-a-half years in jail with the final 15 months of that suspended. Frank Kilbride of Aughakilmore, Ballinalee officially plead guilty to three charges under money laundering legislation at Longford Circuit Court in January.
The 70 year appeared before Judge Kenneth Connolly at Longford Circuit Court today for sentencing. The charges state Mr Kilbride, on various dates between 2017 and 2019, engaged in converting, transferring, handling, acquiring and possessing property that was the proceeds of criminal conduct to the approximate amount of €2.6 million.
According to Garda evidence, the money was funneled through a company called TJO Developments which was set up by Mr Kilbride before the period in which the money laundering took place. Despite his claims to Gardaí that he sold the company in 2017, evidence showed him highly involved with its operation. The investigation showed how money would be transferred or lodged to the accounts of TJO Developments before being withdrawn via ATM or transferred out.
The three accounts saw a total of €2,604,564.05 move through them between October 2017 and March 2019. The 70 year old was arrested on November, 5th 2022 and later plead guilty to using two business accounts and his own personnel account to receive and distribute funds to several companies in Ireland, the UK and Europe, several of whom were connected to well known gangland figure Dublin Jimmy.
Counsel for the Defence stated that a physiological report conducted on the accused indicated he suffered from PTSD, depression and insomnia, and urged the judge to consider his advanced age when it comes to prison time. In sentencing Mr Kilbride today, Judge Connolly said he displayed no remorse for the victims of money laundering and only seemed ashamed of his loss of status in the community.
