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
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