Plumber told victim outstanding debt had been sold onto Dublin gang
A plumber issued a 'grossly offensive and menacing' threat to a client on Christmas Eve, warning him a near €1,400 bill for works carried out on his home had been passed onto a Dublin based crime gang before telling him: 'If I ever see you locally again, God help you, happy Christmas you English b******'.
Stephen McGuinness, Ballytoohey, Tarmonbarry, Roscommon was convicted and fined €1,500 at a sitting of Longford District Court for his part in an incident that saw the self-employed tradesman deliver an unsolicited text message to his victim on December 24, 2022 at Fisherstown, Clondra, Co Longford.
Sgt Mark Mahon, for the prosecution, said in the wake of receiving that message, gardaí initiated an immediate investigation after McGuinness' victim attended Longford Garda Station in order to give a statement.
Stephen McGuinness told his victim on Christmas Eve how €1,400 for plumbing works had been sold onto a Dublin gang
The man stated how McGuinness had been recommended to him to undertake works at his home.
Sgt Mahon said the accused first assessed the scale of the works to be carried out before going on to spend around two full days plumbing at the man's property.
The court heard how those endeavours had only gone so far as to complete a 'first fix' on the house ahead of further anticipated plumbing works.
Judge Vincent Deane was told how the 42-year-old 'never returned' and 'never answered his phone' despite repeated attempts by his victim to contact him.
Those frustrations led the man to seek out and find an alternative plumber to come and finish the job McGuinness had left behind.
Sgt Mahon said the man failed to hear from McGuinness in over 12 months until he received an invoice from the accused on April 14, 2021 amounting to almost €1,400.
McGuinness' victim admitted to gardaí of overlooking the bill and putting it on the 'long finger', owing to other factors which had been linked to the building of a new house.
The court heard how it wasn't until December 24, 2022 when the man next heard from McGuinness, initially by way of a phone call which he missed.
Sgt Mahon said that was followed by a text message from McGuinness, warning him the four figure payment was one which had since been sold onto a Dublin based gang.
The menacing nature of the text also alluded to how it was a 'nice time of the year to remind c***s like you your position in society.'
In a further ominous vow, McGuinness warned him of what potentially awaited him if he ever came face to face with him again.
'If I ever see you locally again, God help you seeing as you're afraid to answer the phone. You will need this for the guards, happy Christmas you English b******.'
Stephen McGuinness exiting Longford Courthouse.
McGuinness later made a voluntary caution statement to apologise for his behaviour, something defence solicitor Michelle Reynolds contended had been given further weight by a formal letter of apology.
In continuing her mitigation to the court, Ms Reynolds said her client hasn't come to any further garda attention since the case first came before the court just over a year earlier and very much regretted his actions.
Judge Deane consequently fined McGuinness €1,500, giving him six months to pay.
Stephen McGuinness exiting Longford Courthouse.
News in 90 Seconds - Sunday, August 3rd
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