On December 15, 2025, Seán McKiernan, a 44-year-old former Fine Gael councillor and one-time cathaoirleach (chair) of Cavan County Council, was sentenced at Trim Circuit Criminal Court to three years and nine months in prison, with the final 12 months suspended. He will serve an effective term of two years and nine months, followed by two years of probation supervision upon release.
McKiernan, of Trinity Bungalow, Virginia Road, Bailieborough, Co Cavan, pleaded guilty to 11 sample counts of theft from a total of 58 charges involving the misappropriation of €172,120 from the Navan Mental Health Housing Association between March 2019 and April 2020. The charity, established in 2001 to provide independent living and support for individuals with mental health challenges in Co Meath, ceased independent operations as a direct result of the financial losses and was later absorbed by Drogheda Homeless Aid.
During the sentencing hearing, presided over by Judge Jonathan Dunphy, the court heard detailed evidence of how McKiernan abused his position as secretary and treasurer of the charity. He obtained pre-signed blank cheques from elderly and ill trustees—William Burke and Michael Finnegan—under false pretences, claiming they were needed for legitimate expenses or HSE meetings. At one stage, he removed an entire chequebook from the charity's accountants.
Detective Garda Seán Patterson, who led the investigation from Navan Garda Station, outlined a complex forensic trail involving 58 cheques paid to 33 individuals, deposited into 32 bank accounts across 23 branches. The amounts ranged from €700 to over €6,000. Interviews with recipients revealed that most were South American male escorts contacted via dating apps and escort websites. McKiernan paid them not only for sexual services but also to procure illegal drugs, including crystal methamphetamine (crystal meth), GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate, known as liquid ecstasy or a date rape drug), and cocaine.
Video evidence recovered from McKiernan's phone depicted him using drugs, such as smoking from a crack pipe, and engaging in sexual activities, further illustrating the personal nature of the expenditures. Det Gda Patterson described the funds as being used for "sex and drugs," with some escorts meeting McKiernan up to ten times.
Judge Dunphy characterised the offences as a "serious breach of trust" against vulnerable individuals reliant on the charity's services. He noted the absence of any restitution—no repayments were made despite McKiernan's earlier promises—and emphasised the devastating impact, including job losses and the closure of a social club for service users.
In mitigation, defence counsel Gareth Baker KC presented psychological reports diagnosing McKiernan with major depressive disorder since adolescence, compounded by low self-esteem, social anxiety, loneliness, and a physiological condition affecting sexual function. Baker argued that McKiernan's drug use escalated from sporadic in 2016 to heavy dependency, leading to engagement with escorts primarily for drug procurement to experience "highs and euphoria." McKiernan had engaged with drug counselling, showing progress despite occasional relapses, and was assessed as low risk for reoffending. The defence highlighted his deep shame, which had become "paralysing," and the ruin of his once-promising political career.
McKiernan, who made history in 2011 as the youngest-ever cathaoirleach of Cavan County Council at age 29, served as a Fine Gael councillor for Bailieborough from 2007 to 2014. He also held roles on the Cavan-Monaghan Education and Training Board and Fine Gael's national executive.
A victim impact statement from trustee Michael Finnegan described repeated failed attempts to recover funds, with McKiernan delaying meetings and offering unfulfilled repayment promises, such as €50,000.
Judge Dunphy rejected a defence application to defer sentencing for McKiernan to arrange personal affairs, stating it would exemplify further avoidance. He commended the thorough garda investigation and imposed immediate custody.
The case underscores significant breaches in charitable governance and the personal consequences of untreated mental health and addiction issues intersecting with positions of trust.
