Breaking: Catherine O'Brien found guilty of deception charges
The jury returned the verdict following a trial relating to the purchase, transport, and insurance of a French mare called Lingreville.
It was alleged that she 'dishonestly by deception' induced Dubliner John Blake to pay €20,000 to purchase the horse — 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, of 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.
The jury had heard she had met Mr Blake on a dating website called Plenty of Fish.
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Irish Daily Mirror
3 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
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Sunday World
3 hours ago
- Sunday World
Dad-of-three jailed for messaging mum asking to have sex with her toddler daughter
Thomas Quinn (27) had communicated via Snapchat and asked her if he could have sex with her two year old daughter. A judge has jailed a 27 year old Ennis man for asking a mother on Snapchat could he have sex with her two year old daughter. At Ennis Circuit Court, Judge Francis Comerford imposed the 18 month prison term on father of three, Thomas Quinn of Watery Rd, Ennis and with a bail address in Co Cork for the offence committed on August 29th 2020. Judge Comerford said that there was an intent to harm a child and the public understandably shows revulsion at this type of crime. Judge Comerford said that there has been no admission by Mr Quinn to the offence of communicating with the woman online for the purpose of facilitating the sexual exploitation of her then two year old girl. A jury convicted Mr Quinn of the offence at a trial at Ennis Circuit Court in May and the case was adjourned for sentencing. Thomas Quinn at Ennis Court. News in 90 Seconds - Wednesday, July 30 At the sentencing hearing, Judge Comerford said that Mr Quinn's crime was 'a crime of intent'. Judge Comerford said that Mr Quinn's actions in the Snapchat exchange with the mother were 'irrational and impulsive'. He said: 'The child was never going to be in danger because her mother was always going to protect her.' Judge Comerford said that he was going to put the offence in the lower level of such offending for one to four years in prison where prison terms of up to 14 years can be imposed. He said that there was 'an absence of direct or indirect consequence for the victim'. Judge Comerford said that the offence didn't seem to be in any way calculated. Investigating Garda in the case, Garda Nadine Keane said that the two year old girl's mother came to Ennis Garda Station to make a complaint that Mr Quinn had communicated via Snapchat and asked her if he could have sex with her two year old daughter. Counsel for the State, Sarah Jane Comerford BL (instructed by State Solicitor for Clare, Aisling Casey) said that in the Snapchat, Mr Quinn said that during the conversation he asked the woman if he could 'feek' her two year daughter. Ms Comerford said that there is no dictionary definition for ''eek' but the woman understood that Mr Quinn wanted to have sex with her daughter. Later in the exchange on his request, Mr Quinn asked 'if you let me, I would…' and persisted when asking 'but would you let me?' Garda Keane said that the mother had known Mr Quinn for a number of years and had been messaging him on and off for six months before August 29th 2020. Garda Keane said that the woman kept screenshots of Mr Quinn's request. Judge Comerford said that Mr Quinn always denied making the comments and had argued that some third party had interposed themselves on his Snapchat. However, Judge Comerford said that 'those denials set at nought by really good police work'. Judge Comerford set a headline sentence of 26 months and reduced it to 18 months. The judge said that he could not suspend any part of that 18 months due to no admissions being made by Mr Quinn so there can't be any steps towards rehabilitation. Judge Comerford said that Mr Quinn is now on the Sex Offenders register as a result of the conviction and can be identified in the reporting of the case.
Irish Daily Mirror
7 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
‘High IQ Jekyll and Hyde' character jailed after Valentine's Day road rampage
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He is also charged with dangerous driving o the N13 on February 14th, 2019 He is further charged that, at Dromore, Letterkenny, on February 14, 2019, that he did without lawful excuse damage property, to wit, a Toyota Corolla belonging to Kathleen Birch intending to damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be damaged. The charge is contrary to Section 2 (1) of the Criminal Damage Act, 1991. He is also charged with failing to report an accident when injury was caused to property or a person at Dromore Lower on February 14th, 2019 being the driver of a vehicle involved in the accident. Other charges were also taken into account by the court. Prosecutor for the State, Ms Fiona Crawford, BL, along with Garda Daire Sheridan outlined the series of events on the day which led to Orr's arrest. He told how another motorist, Charles Bonner, was driving on the dual carriageway into Letterkenny when he saw another car overtaking a series of other vehicles before pulling in front of him. Mr Bonner flashed his lights at the car but the other driver, now known to be Owen Orr, slammed on his brakes forcing the other driver to brake. Mr Bonner stopped and the driver of the other car came over, punched him in the nose, pulled the keys out of his jeep and then threw them into a hedge and drove off with the entire incident being captured on dashcam. At Dromore Lower, some kilometres down the road, Mrs Kathleen Birch and her daughter were traveling towards Letterkenny down Lurgybrack when a car pulled out and smashed into them. Mrs Birch suffered pain in her back and legs and feared her car was going to go on fire as other motorists came to her aid. The driver of the other car fled on foot but left his wallet with bank cards and identification at the scene. Garda motorcyclist Michael Kilcoyne arrived at the scene of the accident and went in search of the driver of the other car and found Owen Orr walking at nearby Cullion Road. He addressed Orr who became aggressive and assaulted the Garda by grabbing him by the neck causing his motorbike to fall to the ground. A scuffle broke out and Orr lashed out at the arresting officer by kicking him before he was taken to Letterkenny Garda Station for questioning. The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week While in the station, Orr refused to give either a blood or urine sample to a registered nurse. The accused man was interviewed four days later when sober and the court was told he was very apologetic about the incident. Barrister for Orr, Mr Ciaran Elders, BL, directed by solicitor Frank Dorrian, said his client was very cooperative during the second interview describing him as a 'Jekyll and Hyde' character when he had alcohol taken. He added that he finds himself in a better place today and has been sober since 2023 after two periods in rehabilitation apart from a small lapse. The accused man had a total of €2,000 in compensation to offer including a sum to replace the €500 key for Mr Bonner's jeep, another €750 for the damage to his glasses and €750 to be given to a charity of Garda Kilcoyne's choice. A further €500 was also available to Mrs Birch while the court was also told that civil proceedings are also ongoing arising from the collision. Mr Elders added that his client was now trying to put his life back together and was a man with a high IQ with five children, the oldest of which were also academically gifted and wanted to attend college. Judge Roderick Maguire addressed the accused and asked him how his family were now keeping and how his life was now that he is trying to remain sober. Orr said that he was attending AA meetings four times a week. Mr Elders added that now that it appears that Orr has been rehabilitated and has also come a long way since this incident in 2019, he was not sure how a custodial sentence could benefit Orr or society at large. Passing sentence, Judge Maguire outlined all the events of the night saying he had considered all matters. He outlined a headline sentence but then said he had to consider mitigation before passing a final sentence. He said Gardai had noted that Orr was very easy to deal with when sober, he had not come to Garda attention since, had entered an early plea and was in a much better place today. The Judge also noted his probation report, the fact that he has five children and also considered the management of his alcohol abuse and that he is now attending alcoholics anonymous four times a week. He also noted that compensation had been offered to those caught up in Orr's rampage which he said were concrete expressions or remorse of the accused. Taking all these matters into account, Judge Maguire reduced the headline sentence to one of sixteen months with the last eight months suspended and banned Orr from holding a driving license for five years. He also ordered him to enter a bond to keep the peace for a period of two years upon his release from prison. For more of the latest breaking news from the Irish Mirror check out our homepage by clicking here.
