THE WIDOW OF the late founder of suicide prevention charity Console has appeared in court charged with fraudulent trading and money laundering over a ten year period.

The case of Patricia Kelly (59) was mentioned briefly in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court this morning.

Kelly, of Alexandra Manor, Clane, Co Kildare, is the widow of the charity’s former chief executive Paul Kelly, who died earlier this year.

Defence barrister Caroline Cummings BL, led by Kerida Naidoo SC, requested an arraignment date for her client. Judge Martin Nolan adjourned the matter to 2 December.

Kelly did not speak during the brief mention except to confirm she was in attendance.

She is charged with two counts of fraudulent trading and one count of money laundering on dates between December 2006 and July 2016.

On the first count she is charged that between 6 December 2006 and 31 May 2015, she was knowingly a party to the carrying on of a business – Console Suicide Bereavement Counselling Ltd – for fraudulent purpose; namely the misuse of the company’s property which was intended to be applied to the objectives of the company.

The second count relates to the same charge on dates between 1 June 2015 and 14 July 2016.

Kelly is further charged with one count of money laundering, namely that between 1 September 2010 and 1 July 2016, she concealed the true nature, source, location, disposition, movement or ownership of property of Console Ltd or behaved or was reckless as to whether or not the said property was the proceeds of criminal conduct.

Patrick Gageby SC will prosecute the case, the court heard.

Comments have been closed as legal proceedings are ongoing.