Dubliner Stephen Keating, aka Stiofan Ceitinn, is at the centre of a major deportation row that has gripped Australia in recent days.
Dubliner Stephen Keating, aka Stiofan Ceitinn, is at the centre of a major deportation row that has gripped Australia in recent days.
In 2020, Keating was sentenced to eight years in prison for leading a group of “predatory” fraudsters who duped more than 160 people out of Aus$2.1m (€1.28m) over 18 months across Australia.
Dubbed the ‘Irish Boys’, Keating headed up a ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ style cold-call scam operation from boiler rooms employing at least 45 people on Australia’s Gold Coast
The gang convinced victims into paying around $18,000 each after telling them they would make up to $80,000 a year in profit.
After he was released from prison in 2023, Keating had his visa to live in Australia reinstated under a new rule which gave greater weight to the 20 years he had lived in Australia, as well as his teenage daughter who was born there.
For 15 months, Keating openly lived and worked in Australia but was taken back into custody on June 13 by Border Force officials upon the Immigrant Minister’s instruction.
He is now facing deportation back to Ireland.
Writing on social media, Keating said: “I’ve always been honest about my past. Convicted of fraud in 2020, I served 2.5 years in prison and 5.5 years on parole.
“My visa was revoked during this time, but I fought and won its reinstatement… fairly and through the government processes.
“My main goal has always been to stay with my daughter, an Australian citizen. I’ve reformed my life and haven’t committed any crimes in a decade.
“My visa cancellation now is a political move, in my opinion and I’ve been unfairly and unjustly caught in the crossfire. This error by Minister Andrew Giles must be corrected.
“I need your help to overturn this decision and reunite me with my daughter.”
Stephen Keating with his daughter
Leating was one of a number of people jailed over the ‘Irish Boys’ scam gang’s operations.
Australian police believe victims handed over $18m to the gang since 2006 but they were only charged in relation to an 18 month period and a large number of suspected victims declined to give statement.
During Keating’s trial, the court heard they were adept at using subterfuge by setting up fake websites for fictitious competitor, producing brochures with fabricated figures and giving false information to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
All the victims lost money but Keating pocketed $230,000 from the victims he was charged in relation to while his co-accused Aaron East made $301,000 and Daniel East made $282,000.
By the time the scam was shut down there was only $17,000 left in the bank and none of the victims were offered compensation.
In a petition launched online, entitled ‘Keep Stephen and Keira together! Don’t deport a loving father from a beautiful girl’ , Keating says he does not want to be separated from his teenager daughter.
He writes: “I am originally from Ireland, having spent 19 years there before moving to the UK for a couple of years I moved to stay Australia aged 21 and I have lived here almost 21 years, half my life and lived longer here than any other country I am the father of one amazing Australian daughter, Keira, aged 15.
“In 2015, I was arrested and later convicted of fraud in 2020. I was sentenced to 8 years, with parole eligibility after 2.5 years.
“My visa was cancelled in November 2020. I have consistently expressed deep remorse for my actions, acknowledged by both the judicial system at sentencing and during Tribunal proceedings.
“Due to my strong bond with my daughter and other significant ties to the Australian community, my visa was reinstated in March 2023.
” After 2.5 years of separation, I was reunited with her and have spent the last 15 months attempting to rebuild my family life, staying crime-free and aspiring to contribute positively to society.
“The moment I was reunited my daughter was the single happiest moment of my life I worked tirelessly to present a strong case to the AAT, self represented I poured my heart and soul into the proceedings because being with my daughter is all I really desire and what she needs for child fulfilment.
“On June 13, 2024, I was detained by Border Force and now reside in immigration detention, facing limited prospects of returning to the community. A complete 180 of emotion.”