Latest news with #OrlaCrowe
BreakingNews.ie
15-07-2025
- BreakingNews.ie
Man (44) jailed for arson of cars and house in which the owners were sleeping
A 44-year-old man has been jailed for three years and nine months for the arson of two cars and a house in which the owners were sleeping. Seán Byrne of Cushlawn Way, Tallaght, who was intoxicated and said he couldn't remember the incident, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to damaging the two cars and the house by fire on October 20th, 2023. Advertisement He did not know the owners. The court heard that gardaí were called to a car on fire in a driveway in Tyrconnell, Inchicore, at 3.15am on the morning in question. The owner woke to a loud bang, looked out his window and saw his car on fire. A neighbour's CCTV footage showed a man entering and exiting the car, and gardaí recognised Byrne from the footage. Judge Orla Crowe was told that Byrne was seen getting into the first car for a few seconds before getting out, and that shortly after that, it went on fire. Advertisement It was unclear how he started the blaze. The other car then caught fire, and the front of the house sustained heat damage from the two fires. The court heard that the cars, which belonged to a couple who lived in the house, were both written off. Their house insurance paid out more than €21,000 for heat damage to the front of the property. The court heard that when gardaí came upon Byrne later, he was highly intoxicated and gave a false name. They seized two backpacks and a bicycle that he was seen using in the footage. When he was sober, the gardaí found him pleasant and easy to deal with, and his condition had drastically improved since, the court heard. Advertisement He has more than 70 previous convictions. Defence barrister, John Griffin BL, said that his client had no recollection of or explanation for the incident, which showed no planning or sophistication. 'It was a matter that went wrong,' he said. 'It could have gone much more wrong.' Counsel said that his client had suffered from drug and alcohol abuse for most of his life and used to steal food from shops and sell it to feed a heroin addiction. He has spent a lot of his life in and out of prison. Ireland Man (33) and woman (26) admit theft in relation to... Read More 'He does very well in prison. He comes out a very fresh, healthy man,' defence counsel said, explaining that Byrne had purposely gone into custody following this offence in order to come clean. 'Thankfully, nobody was hurt, be it because the people were alert or thanks to the fire brigade,' he said. Judge Crowe described it as a very unusual case in which no accelerant was used. She imposed a sentence of four and a half years, but suspended the final nine months for two years, provided Byrne engage with the probation service after his release.
Irish Daily Mirror
03-07-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man who stole €40,000 in social welfare entitlements gets suspended sentence
A 61-year-old man who used a false Afghan passport to claim more than €40,000 in social welfare entitlements has been given a suspended sentence. The judge heard that the Pakistani man is actually entitled to the money under his own name. Faizal Akbar, with an address at Benburb Street in Dublin, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where he pleaded guilty to stealing the money on dates between 2010 and 2019. Judge Orla Crowe noted that he had used the false passport to open a bank account, get an 'M10 form' and make an application to the Department of Social Protection. He then received €43,715 in payments from the department. This false Afghan passport also allowed him to leave Ireland several times to travel back to Pakistan to see his wife and children. The court noted that when the Afghan passport had expired, he had self-reported the situation to his bank, stating that he needed a real passport to travel and visit an ailing relative. The bank contacted the gardai. In 2023, Akbar learned that he was eligible for the payment he had wrongly claimed and is now receiving that very same benefit in his own name. The judge noted that he had no previous convictions and no trappings of wealth; he, in fact, shares a room with three other adults, despite working here. However, his family is understood to have difficult circumstances in Pakistan. "It's a very unusual case," remarked Judge Crowe. "He shouldn't have done it by obtaining a false passport." She imposed a sentence of two years on him, but suspended it in full on his own recognisance for four years. "This will hang over him for that period of four years," she said.
Sunday World
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Sunday World
Man who used false passport to claim over €40k in social welfare avoids jail
Faizal Akbar, with an address at Benburb Street in Dublin, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. A 61-year-old man who used a false Afghan passport to claim more than €40,000 in social welfare entitlements has been given a suspended sentence. The judge heard that the Pakistani man is actually entitled to the money under his own name. Faizal Akbar, with an address at Benburb Street in Dublin, appeared before Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where he pleaded guilty to stealing the money on dates between 2010 and 2019. Faizal Akbar News in 90 Seconds - Thursday, July 3 Judge Orla Crowe noted that he had used the false passport to open a bank account, get an 'M10 form' and make an application to the Department of Social Protection. He then received €43,715 in payments from the department. This false Afghan passport also allowed him to leave Ireland several times to travel back to Pakistan to see his wife and children. The court noted that when the Afghan passport had expired, he had self-reported the situation to his bank, stating that he needed a real passport to travel and visit an ailing relative. The bank contacted the gardai. Faizal Akbar, 60. Photo: Collins Courts In 2023, Akbar learned that he was eligible for the payment he had wrongly claimed and is now receiving that very same benefit in his own name. The judge noted that he had no previous convictions and no trappings of wealth; he, in fact, shares a room with three other adults, despite working here. However, his family is understood to have difficult circumstances in Pakistan. 'It's a very unusual case,' remarked Judge Crowe. 'He shouldn't have done it by obtaining a false passport.' She imposed a sentence of two years on him, but suspended it full on his own recognisance for four years. 'This will hang over him for that period of four years,' she said.
