American man to be sentenced in April for applying for passports in Cork in names of deceased babies

Randolph Kirk Parker carried a Lee Child thriller as he stood in the dock on Wednesday

Randolph Kirk Parker could be sentenced to a maximum of 10 years. File picture: Larry Cummins

The 72-year-old American in Cork who was identified through FBI enquiries had sentencing in his case put back until April after he confirmed his signed pleas of guilty to passport frauds which could carry a maximum sentence of 10 years.

Previously known as Philip Morris and later identified through enquiries with the FBI as Randolph Kirk Parker, the accused man carried a Lee Child thriller as he stood in the dock on Wednesday.

Defence barrister Brendan Kelly said the accused wished to proceed to sentence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Prosecution barrister Emmet Boyle said the prosecuting officer would be available to give evidence at a sentencing hearing on April 12. “Four of the charges relate to making false statements for procuring a passport. They carry 10 years on indictment,” Mr Boyle said.

Mr Kelly said: “He has been in custody since September 2023.” The case centres on allegations that he had passports in the names of two babies who died within three months of birth in 1952 and 1953.

Detective Garda Padraic Hanley of the Garda National Bureau of Criminal Investigation was in court for the adjournment of sentencing.

Randolph Kirk Parker confirmed his signed pleas of guilty to four counts of using false information to obtain passports and one count of possessing a false document. The charges which are admitted all relate to the passport office on South Mall, Cork. 

The charges of using false information to obtain passports relate to the following dates: September 12 to 24, 2012; August 7, 2013; June 7, 2022, and September 11, 2023. The charge of possessing a false document — namely a driving licence in someone else’s name — relates to September 14, 2023.

He was remanded in continuing custody until April.