'I don't want to die in prison'- This was the plea of a former Longford hotelier and politician guilty of money-laundering before he was handed a three-year jail sentence.
Frank Kilbride, of Aughakilmore, Ballinalee, officially plead guilty to three charges under money laundering legislation at Longford Circuit Court in January.
He was sentenced to four and a half years in prison at Longford Circuit Criminal Court this evening, with the final 15 months suspended.
The 70-year-old appeared before Judge Kenneth Connolly at Longford Circuit Court, where he reminded the Judge he had cancer and that he wanted to die at home with his wife and dogs instead of in prison.
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, despite his claims to Gardai that he sold it in 2017, he remained an integral part of operations, using it to move large amounts of cash.
The 70-year-old was arrested on the November 5, 2022, and later plead guilty to using two business accounts and his own personnel account to receive and distribute €2.6 million to several companies in Ireland, the UK and Europe, several of whom were connected to well-known gangland figure Dublin Jimmy.
Judge Connolly was presented with letters from Mr Kilbride and his wife at a court sitting two weeks ago alleging coercion and intimidation as well as his own unwitting part in the laundering operation.
An attack on the accused's wife was referenced in the letter, leading the judge to closely examine medical reports from her admission to hospital for a leg injury.
It was Judge Connolly's opinion that the multiple reasons and explanations for the injuries that were provided to medical staff lacked sufficient credibility and suggested a spectre of duress was all that he would accept.
In discussing the aggravating factors before his sentencing, Judge Connolly referenced the quantity of money involved in the case, the seriousness of financing crime through money-laundering and Mr Kilbride's important part in the operation.
He accused the 70 year old of providing a self serving statement to gardaí in 2019 and said the only remorse shown was for his own shame and loss of standing in the community, branding it as self pity.
In mitigation, he acknowledged that Frank Kilbride's Guilty plea was of major assistance to the court, while his respect and behaviour in Garda custody and the spectre of duress were also factored in to his sentence.
Mr Kilbride will now face three years and three months in prison over his involvement in a multi million euro money laundering ring.
