A man based in Co Meath, aged 50, employing fake Central Bank of Ireland papers and defrauding four companies into believing their authenticity and charging them for his work, pleaded guilty before the Trim District Court. Eamon Masterson of Seachnaill Place, Dunshaughlin, faced 44 deceit charges from 2017 to 2019.
He was suspected of creating a counterfeit Central Bank of Ireland query document in violation of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001, at locations in Tullamore, Co Offaly, Ratoath Co Meath, as well as Counties Wicklow and Waterford. The fraud also involved a fabricated Garda verification document.
According to Garda Maeve Barton’s court account, the defendant, an insurance broker turned compliance consultant, prepared paperwork and evidence for the Central Bank on behalf of four companies. Impersonating a Central Bank official, he created emails with actual Central Bank employees’ signatures and circulated these among his clients to convince them that he was processing their applications with the bank. He received fees ranging from €1,500 to 5,000 from these firms for supposedly forwarding these applications to the Central Bank for approval, which never occurred in reality.
The defendant’s lawyer informed Judge Cormac Dunne of his client’s cooperation during two days of questioning by the Gardaí. He admitted his client’s wrongdoings and his willingness to compensate. All wronged companies have been reimbursed their fees, except for one. He also paid two lump sums of €11,000 and €16,000 as compensation.
For forging a document signature and creating a false Garda verification document, Judge Dunne imposed fines of €750 and €1,500, respectively.