The pub meeting that led Sligoman laundering ‘Dublin Jimmy’s’ money

This is the piece of paper that transformed a chronic alcoholic into one of the most vital cogs in notorious border criminal Cyril McGuinness’s empire.

Two weeks after ‘ lamb to the slaughter’ Edward Killian signed his name on this document — identifying him as the sole director of ‘AK Transport Services Limited’ — McGuinness began laundering hundreds of thousands of euro through the logistics company’s bank accounts north and south of the border.

By the date of his death on November 8, 2019, McGuinness — A.K.A ‘Dublin Jimmy’ — who amassed his criminal fortune through theft, smuggling, intimidation and the illegal transport of waste, had funnelled a staggering €1.64 million through the accounts.

And while this was happening, the company’s official books showed a paltry figure for ‘cash in the bank and at hand’ of just €3,250.

A source said: “Killian didn’t know it, but with this document, he’d effectively signed his name on a deal with the devil.

“He was set up to take the fall when this was discovered.

“It’s just another example of McGuinness’s scheming nature.

“He didn’t care what happened to Killian — all he cared about was washing his money.”

Details of how ‘Dublin Jimmy’ hoodwinked Killian into playing his part in the operation were revealed earlier this week as the Sligo man was handed down a suspended three-year sentence on two counts of money laundering.

Approached by the Sunday World for comment on Friday last week, Mr Killian declined to offer any, saying simply: “No, no, I’ve no comment, it’s all done, it’s all done.”

Sligo Circuit Court heard how Mr Killian was drawn into the money washing venture by the crime boss after meeting him in a town centre pub.

Mr Killian thought he was helping the gangster avoid VAT and went along with the laundering after being promised he would be looked after with money at the end. But, the court heard, he never received anything.

‘Dublin Jimmy’ came to national prominence during the investigation into the abduction and torture of Quinn Industrial Holdings director Kevin Lunney.

He was the criminal mastermind who orchestrated the abduction of Mr Lunney on the orders of the ‘Paymaster’.

McGuinness, a native of Dublin, is believed to have arranged the logistics and directed the gang who abducted and tortured Mr Lunney in a savage attack in September 2019.

However, the feared mobster collapsed during a police raid on his home in Buxton, Derbyshire on November 8, 2019, and later died of a cardiac arrest.

Mr Killian told Sligo Circuit Court he met McGuinness in the Garavogue Bar and from there on agreed to put money through two accounts from him, a euro account with the AIB in Galway and another sterling account in Northern Ireland.

The 48-year-old was charged with two counts of laundering €951,747 on various dates between September 2018 and October 2019 and £592,430.71 between April 2019 and October 2019 — the proceeds of crime.

Outlining the case against Mr Killian, Garda Rhona Bohan led by Mr Leo Mulrooney BL with Ms Elisa McHugh, State solicitor, told the court that Killian pleaded guilty to one of the counts of money laundering on a full facts basis with the other to be taken into consideration.

Mr Mulrooney said gardai were investigating Cyril McGuinness who was involved in the theft of machinery and other criminality and money laundering through a company called ‘ AK Transport Services Limited’, with the defendant being the sole director of this company.

A man called Noel McDonagh was the original owner of the firm.

In 2018, Mr McDonagh got a call from Mr McGuinness making enquiries about machinery and then later asked him if he would sell the company to him.

It was a defunct company, a shell company, and Mr McDonagh was happy to sell it to McGuinness for €5,000. Mr McDonagh’s accountant subsequently transferred the firm to McGuinness who was operating under a false name at the time and Killian became a director of it.

The accountant later stated that when he met with Mr Killian, he didn’t seem to have any knowledge as to how to run a company.

Mr Killian went on to open bank accounts for the company.

A total of €951,747 was lodged into one account, mostly through online transactions.

He also signed several cheques for the company paying significant sums to other companies

Mr Killian told gardai later that he believed he had signed several blank cheques. A total of £592,430 was put through a sterling account. The defendant also withdrew sums of €1,500, which were given to Mr McGuinness.

A search warrant was obtained for Mr Killian’s apartment and when gardai arrived there he said: “I know what this is over, Dublin Jimmy.”

He was arrested for money laundering. In a kitchen unit gardai found a shotgun cartridge. Also found were handwritten sheets relating to the company in a cardboard box.

During garda interviews, Mr Killian said: “I knew this day would come.” He outlined how he was totally reliant on alcohol.

The defendant said he had met ‘Dublin Jimmy’ in a pub in Sligo and got chatting to him.

As far as he was concerned this was a businessman who was being crucified by VAT and he was asked to get involved in the business. Mr Killian thought the business was legitimate.

In reply to Judge Keenan Johnson, Garda Bohan said Mr Killian got nothing out of it. He stated at interview that he was told he would get something at the end of the year.

Turning to Mr Des Dockery SC, with Mr Eoin McGovern BL instructed by Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor, Judge Johnson remarked: “It seems like your client was a lamb to the slaughter.”

“Yes” replied Mr Dockery. The senior counsel outlined how the defendant hadn’t really worked for the past 30 years. He had been a manager of a Bookmakers, Boyle Sports in Killarney at one stage but he was sacked due to his drinking.

He had been promised ‘a nice touch at the end, a good lump of money.’

Mr Killian told the court he had a serious alcohol problem for years and that it had blighted his life.

He had stopped drinking on October 5 last having sought help from his GP.

He was also on medication having suffered from depression.

“I’m very embarrassed. I’ve put my family through awful shame and it will remain with me until the day I die,” he said.

Mr Killian said he nearly dropped to the ground when he saw on the news who ‘Dublin Jimmy’ was when he died.

“I had no idea who he was until I saw the RTÉ news and saw his picture after he had died in England,” said the defendant.

Judge Johnson said he was impressed by the evidence the defendant gave.

He had come across as genuine.

Adding that it was clear to him that the defendant wasn’t inherently a criminal, he imposed a three-year sentence, suspended for seven years.