From Dubai deals to a Limerick cell: How the law caught up with Catherine O'Brien

Catherine O’Brien, once boasting of deals in Dubai and France, now awaits sentencing in Ireland’s most overcrowded prison

It was alleged that Catherine O’Brien (pictured) 'dishonestly by deception' induced the man, John Blake, to pay €20,000 to purchase a horse called Lingreville — which the State alleged was not purchased; to pay €1,100 insurance for the mare — which the State said was not paid; and €984 to transport the horse from France to Ireland — which the State said was not transported. Picture: Dan Linehan

It’s a long way from having business dealings in France and Dubai to the overcrowded Limerick female prison but that’s where fraudster Catherine O’Brien finds herself.

After a trial that heard of connections to the Aga Khan, meetings through dating websites, a gallop across Ireland and Europe’s horse racing scene, and allegations of fake names being used, the Buttevant woman is now in custody in Ireland’s most overcrowded prison, awaiting sentence for deceiving a man she met on a dating website.