Jessie Magee and Isabel Hayes
The court heard that Hayes had previously pleaded guilty to possessing €10,000 in proceeds of crime in her Permanent TSB bank account, as well as two other amounts totaling €5,000, deposited in her account in November 2020. However, Judge Baxter noted that Hayes had been a vulnerable individual, struggling with mental health issues, and was exploited by those running a sophisticated scam.
At the time of the offence, Hayes was in a fragile state, struggling with personal difficulties, including a broken marriage and significant debt. She had fallen into a cycle of mental health struggles, including bipolar and borderline personality disorder. Despite this, the court acknowledged that she had since completed residential treatment for drugs and alcohol addiction and had repaid the full €15,000 amount.
Judge Baxter pointed out that while the appropriate sentence could have been 18 months in prison, she opted to deal with the case under Section 100 of the Criminal Justice Act, allowing Hayes to avoid a criminal conviction. Hayes’ cooperation with the investigation and her commitment to rehabilitation were significant factors in the decision.
Hayes, who had a long and successful career in radio under the name Nikki Hayes, had worked with RTÉ and several other stations, including Spin 103, Classic Hits, and East Coast FM. However, the scandal has had a severe impact on her career, and she is no longer employed in the industry. Hayes is now engaged in further training, rebuilding her life after a fall from grace.
The money-laundering scheme came to light when a victim received a fraudulent text from what appeared to be Permanent TSB, prompting him to click a link that led to a phishing scam. A total of €15,000 was transferred from the victim’s account into Hayes’ account. The money was quickly withdrawn through various transactions, including ATM withdrawals in Liffey Valley. Gardaí identified Hayes’ involvement, and she fully cooperated with the investigation.