Homeless Cork man admits role in €15,500 cheque fraud involving elderly victim
Michael O'Brien, aged 55, of Arch House, Rock Street, Cloyne, Co. Cork, was arrested on a bench warrant and appeared at Midleton District Court.
Giving evidence of arrest, charge and caution, Garda Ronan Cogavin told the court that O'Brien said he was 'guilty of handling the cheque but knew nothing about it.'
Court presenter Sergeant Linda O'Leary said that the incident happened on January 18, 2019, when an 89-year-old man was approached by another man about carrying out roof repairs to his property.
The injured party wrote a cheque for €15,500 for the repairs that were not carried out and subsequently recalled the cheque when it became apparent he was the victim of an attempted deception.
Michael O'Brien said he had been drinking in a park at the time and was approached by a third party who offered him €2,500 to lodge the cheque into his bank account.
The court heard that O'Brien has 22 previous convictions, including nine for theft. Defence solicitor Joseph Cuddigan said O'Brien made full admissions in 2022 and is a 'chronic alcoholic.'
He told the court that his client had spent four years in treatment at St Vincent's and had been living in Cloyne for the past eight months in homeless accommodation.
He added that O'Brien was effectively an accomplice in the attempted fraud and did not profit from it.
Judge Colm Roberts said O'Brien was an accomplice and facilitator, who tried to gain from the crime, even though he was ultimately unsuccessful.
He noted that O'Brien's circumstances had improved in recent years and requested a probation and welfare report.
O'Brien was released on bail on his own bond of €500, and the case was adjourned to November 6 for completion of the report.
This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Irish Examiner
13 hours ago
- Irish Examiner
Dutch national accused of stabbing in West Cork refused bail
A Dutch national who is charged with two offences in relation to an alleged stabbing in Clonakilty, West Cork, has been refused bail in the district court. Bas Mulders, aged 54, with an address at Western Road, Clonakilty, Co Cork, appeared before Judge Joanne Carroll at Bantry District Court. The court heard that Mulders was charged with assault causing harm and producing an article in the course of a dispute. Detective Garda Peter Nolan said that gardaí were objecting to Mulders being granted bail based on the O'Callaghan rules and Section 2 of the Bail Act 1997. Det Gda Nolan said gardaí had serious concerns that Mulders could coerce or intimidate a witness and/or the alleged injured party and there was also a risk he could flee the jurisdiction. The court heard that Mulders was accused of stabbing another man with a knife during an argument at a location in Clonakilty in the early hours of Tuesday, July 22. The court heard that a witness had also given a statement in relation to the alleged assault and that Mulders denied the charges. The court was told that the alleged injured party was in a stable condition in Cork University Hospital. Det Gda Nolan said that the alleged injured party lived near Mulders and that the accused had family in the Netherlands but no immediate family in Ireland. The court heard that Mulders had lived in Ireland for 22 years but did not own property and was not in employment with his principal income coming from disability allowance. Defence solicitor Flor Murphy appealed to the court to consider granting bail with conditions. He said that his client's only previous conviction was road traffic related and he had no record for violent behaviour of any kind. He said that Mulders had been living in Ireland for many years and denied the charges. Judge Carroll refused bail based on the garda objections stating there was 'a real risk' Mulders could interfere with the witness or injured party. She remanded the accused in custody to appear again at Bandon District Court on July 28 and granted legal aid to Mr Mulders. This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
Wicklow woman (22) banned from keeping animals for 30 years
Sarah Cullen (22) with an address at Asgard Close, Arklow, Co Wicklow, entered guilty pleas at Arklow District Court yesterday to a total of four offences under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013, including one of obstructing an authorised officer. Judge David Kennedy imposed a 30-year disqualification from keeping all animals, a nominal €500 fine, and ordered that Ms Cullen pay €2,620.35 in ISPCA costs. The court heard evidence from ISPCA chief inspector Conor Dowling yesterday, who described how he called at the defendant's home on April 9, 2024, which was in response to a report received from a concerned member of the public. Mr Dowling spoke with Ms Cullen, who brought two dogs to the front door: a back and white Collie named Sky and a six-month-old Golden Retriever pup named Romeo. Inspector Dowling said he could immediately see that both dogs were in poor condition and told how he picked up the Collie and was alarmed at how light she was. He said he could feel every bone in her body and described her as "a bag of bones". The inspector made the decision that he was going to bring both dogs for veterinary assessment and would seize them if necessary. While he loaded the Collie into his vehicle, the accused brought the Retriever pup into the house and would not permit the inspector access to it. The court heard that Mr Dowling advised the defendant that he would seek a search warrant to gain access to the dog if necessary. He said she seemed more concerned about who had made the report and said that she wanted to make a complaint about the officer. Mr Dowling told how he gave the accused a business card and advised how she could go about making a complaint, adding that, as he left the property, Ms Cullen said: 'I'll have your job you f***ing c***'. ADVERTISEMENT Collie Sky was taken to a local vet, where she was found to weigh just 7.5kg, but veterinary records showed that she had been presented for vaccination two years prior, at which time she was almost double that weight, at 14.8kg. The vet assigned her a body condition score of one out of five and described her as 'skin and bone'. The court heard how Inspector Dowling obtained a search warrant the following morning, on April 10, and returned to Asgard Close accompanied by gardaí. Contact was made with the defendant, and it was established that she and the Retriever pup Romeo were at her sister's home. Therefore, the officials went to that address and the second dog was seized. Inspector Dowling said that the pup's belly appeared swollen, and he formed the opinion that he had been fed a lot since the previous day. He said the pup vomited during the journey to the vets, producing a large volume of barely digested dog food. The court heard that during the veterinary examination, Romeo was found to weigh 13.5kg, while the vet records showed that he had lost 2.9kg in the previous 11 weeks despite being a growing pup. The vet noted muscle wastage on the back legs of the dog, and said that the dog should weigh over 20kg, describing him as 'skin and bone'. Mr Dowling told of how he later conducted an interview under caution with the defendant, during which she offered no real explanation for the condition of the dogs. She claimed that Sky was a picky eater and acknowledged that she had noticed they were losing weight, but claimed not to think it was as severe as it was. The court heard that both dogs increased in weight over the following three weeks without any medical treatment. Sky almost doubled in weight, increasing from 7.5kg back to her previous weight of 14.8kg, and Romeo gained 25pc of his initial weight, from 13.5kg to 18kg. Both dogs recovered fully and were later surrendered and rehomed. Under cross-examination, Inspector Dowling confirmed that, other than the poor physical condition, there were no other signs of neglect or abuse. When asked by Judge David Kennedy whether the dog's coats were dirty, suggesting that they had been living in a poor environment, the inspector told the Judge that that was not the case. In mitigation, the defendant's history of depression and anxiety disorders was highlighted, as well as her difficult upbringing. The court heard that she 'panicked' when the ISPCA inspector arrived and that she was 'sorry for her behaviour'. On passing sentence, Judge Kennedy wondered 'how it got so bad' and said that he would have thought that the defendant's family "would have been some guidance'. Mr Dowling said that the "poor physical condition of Sky in particular was really concerning". "For a dog to be half of its ideal body weight is exceptional. I'm relieved that I got there in time because I'm not sure how much longer she would have gone on for," he said. "Romeo's future development could have been severely compromised from being deprived of nutrition at such a young age. "Thankfully, due to the wonderful work of our animal care staff, both have recovered fully and are enjoying life in their new homes," he added.
Sunday World
a day ago
- Sunday World
Man accused of assaulting retired judge remains in custody after being refused bail
At Ennis District Court, Jamie O'Connor was making his fourth appearance in court concerning the charge that he assaulted retired district court judge, Joseph Mangan The County Clare man charged in connection with the alleged street assault of a retired district court judge remains on remand in custody after being refused bail in the High Court, a court has heard. At Ennis District Court, Jamie O'Connor was making his fourth appearance in court concerning the charge that he assaulted retired district court judge, Joseph Mangan on Saturday, June 14th. Mr O'Connor (44) of Laurel Lodge, Clare Rd, Ennis has been in custody since June 18th after Judge Alec Gabbett refused an application for bail. Mr O'Connor subsequently made an application for bail to the High Court and Sgt John Burke at Ennis District Court has told Judge Gabbett that the application was refused. Sgt Burke said that there is progress in the investigation. He said that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) directions are not yet available but that the file in the case is ready to be submitted with the DPP. He said that Gardai have also obtained a medical report on the alleged injured party. In connection with the alleged assault, it is alleged that Mr O'Connor - who was appearing via video link from Limerick prison - told the former judge 'you put in jail for nothing' before allegedly punching him outside an Ennis cafe. The retired judge - now in his early 80s - served as a judge for 27 years and was the assigned district court judge for Clare from 2001 to October 2011 when he retired at the age of 67. In the case, Mr O'Connor is charged with the assault causing harm of Joseph Mangan at Barrack Court, Ennis contrary to Section 3 of the Non Fatal Offences Against the Person Act on June 14th. At a contested bail hearing on June 18th, Judge Gabbett said: 'This is an extremely serious alleged offence where a retired district court judge now into his 80s was allegedly assaulted for carrying out a public duty when he was a judge.' Sgt John Burke told the bail hearing that at 2.25pm on June 14th, Mr Mangan was sitting outside the Gourmet Store on Barrack Court in Ennis having a coffee. Sgt Burke said that it will be alleged that Mr O'Connor approached Mr Mangan 'and told him aggressively 'you put me in jail for nothing'. Sgt Burke said: 'Following a brief interaction it is alleged that Mr O'Connor stood up and punched Mr Mangan.' Sgt Burke said that Mr O'Connor then fled the scene in the direction of O'Connell Street. He said that Mr Mangan went to the local injuries unit in Ennis where he was treated for possible concussion and dizziness. Sgt Burke said that Mr Mangan made a statement to local Gardai. Sgt Burke said that Mr O'Connor was later arrested where he made no admissions 'and blamed alcohol for his memory loss'. Mr O'Connor (44) of Laurel Lodge, Clare Rd, Ennis is also charged with on June 15th stealing three X cans of beer valued at €11.40 from Dunnes Stores, O'Connell Street, Ennis. The alleged theft occurred one day after Mr O'Connor is alleged to have assaulted Mr Mangan. The High Court. Stock image/Getty News in 90 Seconds - July 24th
