A 36-year-old man who pleaded guilty to defrauding 18 students of almost €30,000 brought half that sum to court today to offer as compensation.
Raul Rodriguez Ramirez ran an agency specialising in facilitating international students who wanted to study English in Ireland.
Ramirez used the students money to invest in a restaurant business, which failed during the pandemic, instead of booking their language courses in 2020 and 2021.
The Circuit Criminal Court heard he had run the agency legitimately until then.
Judge Orla Crowe adjourned his sentencing until next March to allow him time to raise more money.
The court heard Mr Ramirez had brought €14,050 to court, the bulk of it having come from his father.
Judge Crowe said the money is a "token" of his remorse and agreed to give him more time to try and gather more funds, but refused to allow him have his passport to return to Mexico.
She adjourned finalisation of his sentencing until 21 March.
