Community text alert system needed to tackle increase in thefts and burglaries in Rosslare district
District manager Nóirín Cummins advised that, 'up until recently', the superintendent attended the RMD meetings on an annual basis and that the Local Community Safety Partnership (LCSP) will be launched later this year.
'I'd really like to see the community text alert scheme come back in,' continued Cllr O'Brien, 'it works, it's easy to manage and run. A couple of weeks ago half of the district was in terror, my phone did not stop for five days with people saying they were seeing the same vans going on, people trying to break into their houses at 8 a.m. through their sitting-room windows, animals almost being robbed out of their gardens. We need to focus on doing things that we know work.'
She received support from Cllr Jim Codd who had some stories from his own part of the district to share.
Requesting that a representative from a local neighbourhood watch group be invited to attend a future meeting, he spoke of 'an elderly couple in my own area who had two young lads get up on the roof and start painting it without any permission'.
"When guards retire, we need them to be replaced quickly. Criminals know about these retirements, know there aren't as many eyes on them,' said Cllr Codd..
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Irish Examiner
3 days ago
- Irish Examiner
From Dubai deals to a Limerick cell: How the law caught up with Catherine O'Brien
It's a long way from having business dealings in France and Dubai to the overcrowded Limerick female prison but that's where fraudster Catherine O'Brien finds herself this weekend. After a trial that heard of connections to the Aga Khan, meetings through dating websites, a gallop across Ireland and Europe's horse racing scene, and allegations of fake names being used, the Buttevant woman is now in custody in Ireland's most overcrowded prison, awaiting sentence for deceiving a man she met on a dating website. It was alleged that she 'dishonestly by deception' induced the man, John Blake, to pay €20,000 to purchase a horse called Lingreville — which the State alleged was not purchased; to pay €1,100 insurance for the mare — which the State said was not paid; and €984 to transport the horse from France to Ireland — which the State said was not transported. Ms O'Brien, who now has an address at An Grianan, Ballinroad, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, had pleaded not guilty to the three charges of making gain or causing loss by deception contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. Catherine O'Brien is in a cell in Limerick awaiting her sentence. Picture: Dan Linehan Before reaching their guilty verdict within 40 minutes on Wednesday at Waterford circuit court, the jury of five men and seven women heard during the trial how she and Mr Blake first met through dating website Plenty of Fish, after which she convinced him to invest €20,000 in a thoroughbred stallion called Shakeel. The court heard that Ms O'Brien and business associate John Walsh of Bishopstown Stud in Lismore, Co Waterford, purchased Shakeel from the Aga Khan. Two breeding rights in Shakeel were then sold to Mr Blake at €7,000 each, while he also invested €20,000 in the horse. It was claimed Ms O'Brien told him he could make huge profits by investing in a brood mare to be covered by Shakeel, and he paid €20,000 for a mare he believed was called Lingreville. This, the court heard, was after he was advised by Ms O'Brien that the purchase would help offset tax implications arising from earnings from Shakeel. Reams of text messages between the two over 2018 and 2019 were read out during the trial, with references to Ms O'Brien having business dealings in Dubai and France. However, the pair's correspondence ended in September 2019, when Mr Blake learned that the horse he thought he had purchased, Lingreville, had not been brought to Ireland from France. It was the State's case that the mare was not purchased, insurance was not paid and the money paid for transport of Lingreville was instead used to pay an outstanding bill owed for the collection and transport of horses from one location to another within Ireland. Deferred meeting The court heard that while Mr Blake had made several attempts to meet with Ms O'Brien in the months before September 2019, and to see Lingreville and the foal he believed she had produced by Shakeel, a raft of excuses were provided by Ms O'Brien. These included the death of a friend in Spain, and health issues including broken ribs, a virus contracted from foals, back problems and recurring shingles. Her mother was gravely ill, she told Mr Blake. She also said she herself needed surgery on her nose and also needed dental treatment. 'I've never had so much bad luck and I don't know why,' she told him. Ironically, Mr Blake had endured much more bad luck, having suffered a stroke. And when he appeared as a prosecution witness at the start of the trial, he had received a stage 4 cancer diagnosis. Catherine O'Brien (pictured) had named her 'friend and barrister' Michael Egan as the owner of Shakeel, because, she said, 'nobody would take a woman seriously' in the horse industry. Picture: Dan Linehan The trial heard that in October 2021, after Ms O'Brien had been charged with fraud relating to Mr Blake and the purchase of the mare Lingreville, Mr Blake received payment of €22,000 and signed a settlement for the money with John Walsh and Catherine O'Brien. The document stated it was for a brood mare named Shamalana, who had been incorrectly named as Lingreville, and for breeding rights to the stallion Shakeel. While there was no record of Shakeel having covered Lingreville, there was a record of him covering a mare called Shamalana. In messages between Ms O'Brien and Mr Blake, the accused had named her "friend and barrister" Michael Egan as the owner of Shakeel, because, she said, "nobody would take a woman seriously" in the horse industry. However, in court during cross-examination, Ms O'Brien said the owner was Mr Walsh, a racing entity called Classic Thoroughbreds and a company called Eclipse Penumbra Holdings Ltd. In answering a question put by prosecuting counsel Conor O'Doherty about where Mr Egan slotted into the set up, she said Mr Egan used Shakeel on some of his own broodmares, and was also involved in the promotion of the stallion. She also said he was the "frontperson" for Shakeel and stated that she had "no experience in standing a stallion". Shakeel winners At another point, Mr O'Doherty questioned if Shakeel had sired any winners, to which Ms O'Brien responded that one, Shakespurr, had placed in a race in Slovakia. This was not a surprise to the Irish Examiner, which revealed in the summer of 2023 that a horse called Shakespurr, linked to Catherine O'Brien, placed third in a race in Bratislava, earning a lowly €250. However, this newspaper also revealed that the same horse had placed last in a race at the same track at a separate meeting. When Mr O'Doherty put it to Ms O'Brien that placing in a Slovakian race would not have the same status as races in Ireland, the UK, or France, Ms O'Brien responded: 'As with any racehorse going out, it doesn't matter if it is the Curragh, or Ballinrobe, or it doesn't matter if it is Slovakia, it is an achievement for any horse to be placed or win in a race.' At times, the heat was too much to bear in Judge Eugene O'Kelly's court – so much so that on two different days the court had to rise for a short time to give the jurors a break. On one occasion, an eye towards the jury box saw several of them fanning themselves with sheets of paper, leading Mr O'Doherty to highlight concerns about the air conditioning and Judge O'Kelly to raise concerns about whether the issue in the room impacts the administration of justice. Catherine O'Brien in the witness box The accused at the centre of all the drama sat to the side of the room for much of the trial, until her turn came to be the witness. Initially, it was anticipated that there would be just one witness for the defence, John Walsh, whose stint in the witness box was tinged with tension and outbursts which at times brought smiles to the jurors's faces. One bystander to the proceedings muttered on the day of Mr Walsh's evidence that he should have brought popcorn to court. Soon after Mr Walsh left the witness box, however, word got around that Catherine O'Brien would herself take the stand. No longer was John Walsh the star witness. Now, the spotlight was firmly shining on the woman accused of deceiving John Blake out of money in transactions involving the purchase, transport and insurance of Lingreville. In the absence of the jury, Ms O'Brien raised concerns through her legal team about the 'sarcastic' tone which she believed Mr O'Doherty was using in his cross-examination of her. Also discussed in the trial was how scared Ms O'Brien was when her home was targeted by men who had been shouting through her letterbox and rattling her side gate before sending her a WhatsApp video message 'demanding' €45,000, in September 2019. During the seventh day of the trial, Ms O'Brien said of the incident at her home: It was a horrible, scary event. My life was threatened. My children's lives were threatened. She added: 'I was not comfortable in Dungarvan.' During cross-examination, the court heard that a phone number used by the accused had also been linked to communications with Wetherbys and Five Star Bloodstock in relation to transport by women called Kate Egan and Amy Power respectively. Mr O'Doherty asked Ms O'Brien who these women were and if Amy Power was a fake name she had used, to which she replied: 'I do not accept that.' Throughout her period in the witness box, Ms O'Brien had argued she had been acting on the instruction of Mr Walsh, who himself said had 50 or 60 years of experience of working with horses. He told the court that he had bought Shakeel in a 'three-way partnership' with Ms O'Brien and her uncle, Edmund Hawe. He said that Catherine, who he also referred to as Kate, had acted on his instruction in carrying out the paperwork. In a statement made to gardaí, Mr Walsh had said he had been dealing with Ms O'Brien 'for the last three, four years', describing their relationship as 'strictly business'. In the absence of the jury, Catherine O'Brien (pictured) raised concerns through her legal team about the 'sarcastic' tone which she believed Mr O'Doherty was using in his cross-examination of her. Picture: Dan Linehan When Mr O'Doherty asked why he made such a clarification, Mr Walsh accused the defence counsel of 'defaming my character'. Ms O'Brien was a calmer presence in the witness box and finished her cross-examination on Wednesday morning. This followed an appearance by her in court on Tuesday in which she hobbled into the courthouse, accompanied by Mr Walsh. Her counsel applied, in the absence of the jury, for an adjournment of the case for a week and Judge O'Kelly was presented with a medical certificate from SouthDoc in Mallow outlining that Ms O'Brien was suffering from severe neuralgic pain. The judge was told Ms O'Brien was unable to sit. The certificate outlined that she would not be able to attend 'school or work' until July 20. Mr O'Doherty pointed out that Mr Blake had attended court despite his cancer diagnosis. The case was adjourned for a day, but this was because a member of the jury had suffered a bereavement over the weekend. Judge O'Kelly said that there was very little evidence left to be given, which could be given while standing, and directed that Ms O'Brien return to court on Wednesday morning. The trial heard how Catherine O'Brien (pictured) was scared when her home was targeted by men who had been shouting through her letterbox and rattling her side gate before sending her a WhatsApp video message 'demanding' €45,000, in September 2019. Picture: Dan Linehan On her return on Wednesday morning, she appeared to be recovering and remained seated for much of the proceedings including while finishing off her cross-examination. She was again accompanied by Mr Walsh, who sat at the back of the courtroom throughout the day, and was present when she was found guilty, her only supporter in the room. From time to time, people came in to have a peek at the ongoing trial, while one person travelled several hours to attend many days of the proceedings because of interactions he previously had with Ms O'Brien. As the case proceeded, this reporter spent time after every court day fielding calls and text messages from people across the country glued to the case because of prior dealings they have had with her. Communications came from as far away as Clare, Cavan and Dublin, with one person mentioning that he was feeding information from the happenings in Waterford circuit court to former contacts of Ms O'Brien abroad. For now, the trail has caught up with Catherine O'Brien, taking her to a cell in Limerick as she awaits her sentence.
Irish Examiner
4 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Homeless Cork man admits role in €15,500 cheque fraud involving elderly victim
A Cork man who tried to lodge a cheque for more than €15,000 that was obtained deceitfully has pleaded guilty in the district court. 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
Irish Examiner
5 days ago
- Irish Examiner
Catherine O'Brien a devious liar who preyed on a vulnerable man, deception trial jury told
The prosecution has claimed the deception case against Catherine O'Brien showed her as a devious liar who had preyed on a vulnerable man. Prosecution counsel Conor O'Doherty made the claim in his closing speech on Wednesday in the trial of the 47-year-old, who is accused of deception relating to the purchase, transport, and insurance of a French mare called Lingreville. The jury went out to start their deliberations at 3.49pm on Wednesday afternoon. It is alleged Ms O'Brien 'dishonestly by deception' induced Dubliner John Blake to pay €20,000 to purchase the horse — which the State alleges was not purchased; to pay €1,100 insurance for the mare — which the State says was not paid; and €984 to transport the horse from France to Ireland — which the State says was not transported. Ms O'Brien, of An Grianan, Ballinroad, Dungarvan, Co Waterford, has pleaded not guilty to the three charges of making gain or causing loss by deception contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. On Wednesday morning in Waterford Circuit Court, Mr O'Doherty told the jury Mr Blake had been drawn in to a 'well of deceit' by Ms O'Brien. He referenced a settlement document which was signed by Mr Blake, Ms O'Brien and Ms O'Brien's business associate John Walsh, of Bishopstown Stud, Lismore, Co Waterford, on October 14, 2021. The document outlined the horse purchased by Mr Blake was a brood mare called Shamalana, which had been 'incorrectly named in purchase negotiations with Mr Blake as Lingreville' and he would receive €22,000, which was paid to him the following day. Mr O'Doherty said if the condition for Mr Blake getting €22,000 back 'was to say he stole Shergar, I think he would have signed it". He said Ms O'Brien's evidence and that of defence witness John Walsh did not tally with each other. He also said there were no documents produced in court by Ms O'Brien to support her evidence. He alleged the accused and a woman called Amy Power were both using a mobile phone number, which the accused admitted to gardaí in 2019 was her number. Mr O'Doherty said 'Catherine O'Brien was using an alias, using a false name'. He added Mr Blake was a deeply religious man who was 'being constantly preyed upon' by Ms O'Brien. Addressing the jury, Mr O'Doherty said: 'John Blake had complete faith in her and Catherine O'Brien knew that and manipulated that to her own gain.' Defence counsel Simon Donagh, however, told the jury that 'in a nutshell, the defence case is that there was no deception, it was a mistake'. He continued: 'Yes, Lingreville did feature on a text message. It was a mistake'. He told them while they may not accept everything she or defence witness John Walsh said, their decision must be 'beyond all reasonable doubt'. He added: 'Yes, money went from Mr Blake to the bank account of Ms O'Brien. That does not mean that that was done dishonestly.' Mr Donagh said Mr Blake signed the settlement document 'voluntarily and following legal advice'. Mr Donagh said the jury had an incomplete picture of the communications between Mr Blake and Ms O'Brien because 'none of Mr Blake's two phones were properly analysed'.
