Amy McAuley, aged 35, received a three-year prison sentence after faking her death to evade criminal charges. She was set to face trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court in January 2023 for theft and attempted deception. McAuley had fraudulently obtained a €10,000 loan from KBC Bank in 2018 using altered documents and later tried, unsuccessfully, to secure an additional €5,000 loan. Her fake death notice was published on RIP.ie a week after the supposed funeral date.
The fabricated notice announced McAuley’s passing on December 26, 2022, expressing sorrow from her family and friends. It mentioned a viewing at a funeral home in Shankill without specifying the date and detailed a funeral service at St. Mary’s Church in Lucan, followed by cremation at Mount Jerome Crematorium on December 29. McAuley’s attempt to dodge trial was exposed when she pretended to be her deceased sister and informed the authorities of her demise. She even submitted false death forms to Wexford County Council, resulting in the issuance of two death certificates.
Gardaí initiated an investigation upon discovering McAuley was alive. Surveillance footage from a wedding in Enniscorthy in June 2023 revealed her presence, contradicting the fake death notices on RIP.ie. McAuley later admitted her actions stemmed from avoiding court and caring for her child. She also deceived her employer by feigning her death, leading to a financial claim for her child’s surgery.
Ultimately, McAuley pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including submitting false documents, attempting to pervert justice, forging medical reports, and engaging in theft and deception. She has a history of prior convictions for similar offenses. Judge Orla Crowe criticized McAuley’s calculated deception, emphasizing the premeditated nature of her crimes and the breach of trust involved.
McAuley was sentenced to four years, with the final 12 months suspended under strict conditions. Upon release, she will be under Probation Service supervision for a year. Despite mitigating factors like remorse and family support, the judge stressed the severity of McAuley’s offenses and the need for accountability. McAuley, who faces health challenges and is pregnant with her second child, received a sentence reflecting the gravity of her actions.
