Gang member used money conned out of woman in 'sinister’ romance fraud to buy house in Cork

The judge found that on the balance of probabilities, Thomas Humphreys used the proceeds of the romance fraud carried out by his brother-in-law Patrick 'Pizza Face' O’Brien to purchase the property on Strand Street, Youghal, for €26,620 in July 2015

According to evidence submitted to the High Court by the Criminal Assets Bureau, Thomas Humphreys and various members of his extended family have been involved in organised crime both in Ireland and Australia. File photo

An alleged “key member” of an inter-familial organised crime gang used the proceeds of a “sinister” romance fraud perpetrated on a vulnerable woman to purchase a house in Co Cork, the High Court has ruled.

In a judgment this week, Mr Justice Liam Kennedy found that on the balance of probabilities, Thomas Humphreys used the proceeds of the romance fraud carried out by his brother-in-law Patrick “Pizza Face” O’Brien to purchase the property on Strand Street, Youghal, for €26,620 in July 2015.