Trinity College’s hardship fund was the victim of an elaborate scam, which saw more than €460,000 illegally extracted through over 200 discrete transactions, according to information presented in court. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court was informed on Thursday that ongoing investigations by the Garda are assessing this fraud, which caused roughly €461,275 in losses to the fund.
An amount of €7,100 from this was moved into Jonathan McMahon’s AIB and Revolut bank accounts through four transfers from October 2020 to February 2021. However, during the court session, the investigating Garda officer clarified that McMahon did not personally claim the hardship fund, nor does he have any association with the university.
Upon receiving an appointment, McMahon (27), residing at Greenwood Walk, Blunden Drive, Dublin 13, was detained. He acknowledged ownership of these accounts when questioned. McMahon conceded that the funds were not his but admitted to spending them. The court noted that the Garda officer didn’t find his explanation satisfactory.
The amount deposited into McMahon’s Revolut account was swiftly transferred to an unconnected account, and the money in his AIB account was withdrawn. Investigators believe the withdrawn money was dispersed to other people. McMahon, who has no previous criminal record and has remained off Garda’s radar since this incident, might have served as a money mule, though it’s unclear, the investigating Garda officer explained to the court. There’s no implication that he was coerced.
The defendant’s lawyer stated that McMahon, who has a mild cognitive impairment and can be manipulated, was under the influence of alcohol at the time of the offence and was in association with a negative social group. A letter of apology was also presented to the court. The attorney petitioned the court to dispense with conviction and apply the Probation Act in his favour.
Judge Pauline Codd denied the request, labeling it “inappropriate” given the scale and duration of the fraudulent activities. Instead, she handed McMahon a one-year suspended prison sentence under strict conditions. As significant mitigating factors, she cited the defendant’s admission of guilt and expressed remorse. McMahon was instructed to repay €1,500 and provide an additional €2,000 to the hardship fund as reimbursement within one year.