Randolph Kirk Parker, a 73-year-old American man, was sentenced to 27 months in prison for applying for Irish passports in the names of deceased infants.
The judge took into account aggravating factors such as the threat to the passport system, lack of cooperation with investigators, and breach of trust.
Parker was sentenced to three-and-a-half years, with the final 15 months suspended on certain conditions.
The investigation revealed that Parker’s real name is Randolph Kirk Parker, although he had used the names Philip Morris and Geoffrey Warbrook while applying for passports.
Defence barrister Brendan Kelly said Parker encountered visa difficulties in the course of business activities and met a man with knowledge of the Irish passport system who gave him advice on how to do what he did.
Parker has been in custody at Cork Prison since his arrest. While he refused to answer questions and did not co-operate, he was affable and articulate. Little is known about him other than he came into Ireland via Shannon Airport in 1988, that he travelled around Europe and lived in Amsterdam for some time. He has a VHI account here and a post office box at an address in Dublin.
