Accountant who wrote financial advice newspaper column pleads not guilty to laundering €380k

Cyril Keegan (51), appeared before Dublin Circuit Court this week where he pleaded not guilty to six counts of transferring, handling, acquiring or possessing cash, which was the proceeds of crime.

Mr Keegan, with an address at Old Mill, Brownmills, Kinsale, Co Cork, was remanded on continuing bail until January 19 next year for trial before the Circuit Court.

The accused previously ran an accountancy firm and was regularly quoted as a financial expert in newspapers around the time of the Celtic Tiger and ran a business based in Wicklow.

He also contributed to the Irish Independent where he would respond to reader’s questions on personal financial matters including pensions, taxes and property.

He has not written for the paper since 2010.

Mr Keegan has been the director of 40 different companies over the years according to the companies registration office but is no longer involved in those companies.

After the financial crash he started running a café in Kinsale which was shortlisted at one stage for having Ireland’s best scone. However, the café closed down in 2017 and a court heard he is currently unemployed.

When Mr Keegan appeared before Blanchardstown District Court charged with the offences earlier this year, the court was told the incidents allegedly took place between October 10, 2017 and January 10, 2018, and related to sums of money which were credited to Mr Keegan’s AIB bank account.

The sums involved were €13,355, €6,692, €45,997, €72,143, €67,637 and €182,660 – a total of €388,484.

Detective Garda Sean Sheehan of the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau told the court that Mr Keegan was arrested for the purpose of charge and later charged with the six offences. He was handed a true copy of the charge sheets and he made no reply to the charges after caution, the garda said.

Gda Sheehan had no objection to bail, subject to conditions.

Judge McHugh remanded Mr Keegan on bail in his own bond of €100. As part of his bail conditions he must sign on twice a week at Kilkenny Garda Station. He has also been ordered not to apply for a passport or travel documentation.

The court heard Mr Keegan was unemployed and the judge assigned defence solicitor Michael Lanigan on free legal aid.