Man accused of duping customers of over €42k for sheds that were never built
Trevor Fitzgerald was charged with six counts of deception in which six alleged victims were induced into paying tens of thousands of euro for sheds that never materialised.
A man in his 40s is to stand trial accused of scamming a string of alleged victims into handing over tens of thousands of euro for the construction of sheds which were never built.
Forty-five-year-old Trevor Fitzgerald, of Teffia Park, Longford, appeared at a sitting of Longford District Court before Judge Bernadette Owens to face six charges at various locations in Longford between December 2021 and October 2023.
Three of those charges allege that on dates between December 2021 and three dates spanning January to August 2022, Fitzgerald induced a trio of individuals to carry out bank transfers for various deposits on sheds at Permanent TSB in Longford totalling over €25,000.
Trevor Fitzgerald.
The three remaining charges facing Fitzgerald contend how two men and a woman were allegedly defrauded out of a further €16,500 by making cash and cheque payments for further deposits on sheds which were never completed between June 2022 and May 2023.
They allegedly occurred at Catrongeeragh Business Park and Fabrication Works, the latter of which is also located in the same Athlone Road based facility and at Stewarts Garage, Sligo Road, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Roscommon.
The total sums involved amount to just over €42,000 with all six charges falling under the parameters of Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
Trevor Fitzgerald on the steps of Longford Courthouse.
News in 90 Seconds - June 18th
Fitzgerald, who wore a black t-shirt and tracksuit bottoms to court, stood with his arms folded in the custody suite of the court as Sgt Enda Daly said directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had consented for the accused to stand trial on all six counts.
He added that the State prosecutor's office were also open to Fitzgerald going forward to the Circuit Criminal Court on a signed guilty plea 'should that arise' in due course.
Judge Owens was told the State would not be objecting to bail on the basis Fitzgerald abided by a series of conditions.
They included orders for the accused to reside at his home address, to sign on twice a week at Longford Garda Station, to surrender his passport within 24 hours and undertake not to apply for a duplicate or any other travel documents.
In a further stipulation, Fitzgerald was ordered to refrain from advertising any commercial business activity on social media.
Solicitor Diarmuid Quinn applied for the release of all State evidence in connection to the case to be disclosed to the defence in an application which was approved by Judge Owens.
An application for legal aid was also sanctioned after it was revealed Fitzgerald was currently out of work.
Fitzgerald was remanded on bail to appear back before a sitting of Longford District Court on July 15 for the anticipated serving of a book of evidence.
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