Couple in £1.8m plot to pay out £800,000

Dennis McGinley was jailed for eight years and his wife Bianca for three and a half years at Leeds Crown Court in 2010 after a judge told them they had ruined lives.

McGinley, then 30, admitted conspiracy to defraud, blackmail and money laundering involving five victims and his wife, then 25, admitted conspiracy to defraud and money laundering.

At the same court yesterday Judge Geoffrey Marson QC ruled the benefit from their criminal activity was £1,859,675.36 and that McGinley’s realisable assets amounted to £787,480, making a confiscation order in that amount with four years in default if he does not pay. Bianca McGinley was ordered to pay £29,315 from the sale of jewellery.

Andrew Dallas prosecuting told the court McGinley’s total included £700,000 assessed as “hidden assets”.

The judge ordered the money confiscated should go in part compensation to the five victims, three from Staffordshire, one from Somerset and the farmer from North Yorkshire in amounts ranging from £46,600 to £369,000.

The court heard those targeted, who cannot be identified, were mainly in the farming and business communities and one was left bankrupt. They co-operated with demands fearing they had become embroiled in a world involving drugs and the IRA with threats including knee-capping.

The money from the farmer in Yorkshire paid for a number of luxury cars including a Lamborghini.

McGinley is not due to be released until next year and the court heard he is likely to face extradition to Ireland on similar offences there.