Latest news with #DavidFogarty
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Straits Times
Why is everyone talking about an Asean power grid?
A long-discussed regional power grid could help Southeast Asia meet rising energy demands while curbing carbon emissions driving climate change. ST PHOTO: HADYU RAHIM Green Pulse Podcast Why is everyone talking about an Asean power grid? Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. Rapidly growing Asean is hungry for power to keep its economies humming. With electricity demand growth of 3 to 4 per cent a year, meeting that demand is a costly challenge for governments in the region. A regional grid, long-talked about, could help the region meet its energy needs while also putting a lid on growing carbon emissions that are heating up the planet. The regional grid could shift power around the region, helping move green electricity to countries less able to produce it. And the grid is becoming a reality, with Singapore's demand for low-carbon electricity imports helping drive investment. But wiring up the whole region will be expensive and large hurdles remain, including stronger policy support from regional governments, guaranteed power purchase agreements and lack of regional power trading networks. Join Green Pulse hosts Audrey Tan and David Fogarty as they discuss these questions in this episode. Have a listen and let us know your thoughts! Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:52 The ASEAN power grid was first floated as an idea in 1997 but languished for years. 3:16 What are the key turning points that are helping make the grid a reality? 6:26 Lower air pollution, cheaper power are just some of the potential benefits 9:54 But high upfront costs of wiring up the region is a key challenge 14:48 What are some of the other challenges? 21:41 Blended finance and other funding sources are needed to come together to lure investors Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: Read her articles: Follow David Fogarty on LinkedIn: Read his articles: Hosts: Audrey Tan (audreyt@ & David Fogarty (dfogarty@ Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: Apple Podcasts: Spotify: Feedback to: podcast@ --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: ST Podcast website: ST Podcasts YouTube: --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: Google Play: --- Find out more about climate change and how it could affect you on the ST microsite here.
Sunday World
29-05-2025
- Sunday World
Fraudster jailed for four years over €120k ‘spree' selling machinery he didn't own
Judge says level of manipulation used by David Fogarty was 'simply outstanding' A businessman has been jailed for four years over a 'spree of deception' in which he conned machinery buyers out of over €120,000. A judge said David Fogarty (28) showed a 'simply outstanding' level of deceit and manipulation right up to the day he was imprisoned when he claimed to have €30,000 for his victims, which was not actually available. Clonmel Circuit Court heard how Fogarty, of Killea, Templemore, Co Tipperary, would dupe unsuspecting buyers up and down the country into paying thousands of euro for JCBs and mini-diggers that were not his to sell. He had pleaded guilty to charges of theft, deception and using a false instrument between 2021 and 2023. Fogarty also admitted to attempting to pervert the course of justice by using fake letters for addiction treatment to delay his court case. His victims lived in Donegal, Cork and Tipperary, with one man having to close his business and falling into depression after losing over €42,000 because of Fogarty's scam. Fogarty continued to offend while out on bail and defrauded another victim out of €33,000. In yesterday's sentencing hearing, the court was also informed that Fogarty had sums of €22,000 and €30,000 available to reimburse his victims, which the judge wanted verified. Following inquiries, Det Gda Mark Cullinane told the court that the sum of €30,000 was not available. David Fogarty News in 90 Seconds - May 29th Judge Catherine Staines later said that the 'level of deception, deceit and manipulation' shown by Fogarty 'is simply outstanding, even up to today'. Prosecution counsel Ed O'Mahoney had previously taken gardaí through the details of Fogarty's crimes. Det Gda Cullinane, of Thurles garda station, said one victim was at a loss of €42,000 in relation to the sale of two vehicles. Fogarty had sent pictures of a JCB telehandler to the buyer and used an invalid Vat number as evidence of ownership to sell it, even though it was not his. The buyer transferred €33,210 to Fogarty, but the vehicle was never delivered. In another deal about the same time, Fogarty came into possession of a mini-digger on finance using false identification and sold it to the same buyer for €8,850. The machine was later repossessed by the finance company and the buyer was at a loss. In another case, Fogarty was tasked with collecting a mini-digger for a man living in Schull, Co Cork, but instead sold it to a buyer in Roscrea for €8,000. Det Gda Donna Ferguson, of Letterkenny garda station, gave evidence of a buyer in Donegal inquiring about a mechanical lift vehicle being advertised online. A total of £36,900 (€42,649) was sent to Fogarty after the purchaser was shown a false bank document saying the finance on the vehicle had been cleared. As a result of fraud, the buyer had to close his business, was at a serious financial loss and now suffers from depression. Judge Staines said aggravating factors in the case were the sums of money involved, the impact on the victims and the 'spree of deception' Liam Carroll BL, defending, said his client wanted to apologise to his victims, and that he did not understand the 'stress' he had caused them. He said Fogarty was not offering any 'salacious excuse involving gambling or drugs', but that he was fearful prospective customers for his new business would not return. Counsel said the defendant became involved in a 'cycle of indebtedness' by taking money from two individuals for the same thing and trying to find alternative machinery in the meantime. Judge Staines said aggravating factors in the case were the sums of money involved, the impact on the victims and the 'spree of deception'. She also said Fogarty's 'lies, deception and manipulation know no balance' and that he went on to deceive the district and circuit courts by handing in false letters through third parties. Mitigating factors in the case were Fogarty's young age at the time of the offences, his guilty pleas and his apologies to those he deceived. She sentenced him to two years concurrently on most of the deception and theft counts, but ordered that he serve a concurrent two-year jail term over the Nenagh investigation because it was committed while he was on bail. After jailing Fogarty for a total of four years, the judge also praised the gardaí involved and acknowledged that the case took a huge amount of investigation and dedication.
Sunday World
21-05-2025
- Sunday World
Man sold expensive diggers and machinery he didn't own to unsuspecting buyers
David Fogarty (28) also pleaded guilty to trying to pervert the course of justice A Tipperary businessman has pleaded guilty to theft and fraud by selling a number of expensive plant machines he did not own to unsuspecting buyers in different transactions that netted him around €100,000. David Fogarty (28) also pleaded guilty to trying to pervert the course of justice by coercing innocent people to present false letters to judges claiming he was undergoing treatment for addiction. He used the deception to get his criminal case hearings adjourned. Fogarty, of Park, Killea, in Templemore, appeared before Judge Catherine Staines at Nenagh Circuit Criminal Court on Friday. At the beginning of the case, he made an application to change the barrister presenting his case. This was granted by Judge Staines, who ruled that evidence from gardaí could still be presented and Fogarty's legal team could present mitigating evidence at the next hearing. Fogarty had taken photographs of one vehicle and used that, as well as a false invoice with an invalid Vat number as evidence of ownership Detective Garda Mark Cullinane from Thurles garda station was led through his evidence by barrister Ed O'Mahony for the DPP in relation to the sale of two vehicles to one man in June 2021 with a total value of more than €42,000. The charges fall under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act of 2001. David Fogarty News in 90 seconds - 21st May He said Fogarty had taken photographs of one vehicle, a JCB telescopic handler, and used that, as well as a false invoice with an invalid Vat number, as evidence of ownership to sell it. The court was told that, after the buyer transferred money to Fogarty, the vehicle was never delivered. 'It didn't belong to him,' said Det Garda Cullinane. In relation to a second vehicle in a deal at around the same time, Fogarty had come into possession of a mini-digger by defrauding a dealer using passport details and Facebook photographs of a woman who had lost her bag. Because it was during Covid-19 restrictions, meetings in person were not permitted, and the dealership and finance company were convinced the deal was legitimate. The court was told the buyer got suspicious when he felt the deal he had entered into was too good to be true When the vehicle was being transported by trailer to the woman's address, the driver received a phone call to meet at a different location, and the vehicle was offloaded elsewhere and then came into Fogarty's possession. The court was told the buyer got suspicious when he felt the deal he had entered into was too good to be true, and he rang the original dealership using a phone number on a sticker on the vehicle to make enquiries. He discovered the digger was still on finance to someone else. The vehicle was repossessed by the finance company and the buyer was at the loss of the money he paid. Detective Garda Donna Ferguson, of Letterkenny garda station, gave evidence in relation to a charge of theft and fraud whereby a mechanical lift vehicle was advertised on an online buying and selling site. A buyer sent Fogarty a holding deposit of €1,000 and then met him and transferred him £35,900 (€42,649) after he was shown a false bank document saying the finance on the vehicle had been cleared. In his victim-impact statement, the defrauded buyer said he had since had to close his business, and had suffered serious financial loss and depression. Garda Colum Godfrey, of Nenagh garda station, gave evidence of the fraudulent sale of a digger that originated in Northern Ireland. Fogarty was involved in the transportation of two diggers and met another driver by arrangement in Portlaoise who was transporting them for part of the journey. The first driver told Fogarty he would be interested in buying diggers and asked him whether either of the two diggers they were transporting were for sale, and Fogarty told him one of them was. But he did not own either of them. A few days later, the driver came to see the digger where it was being stored and agreed to buy it for €33,000. The money was transferred into an account and taken out over a few days. The buyer never got the digger because it was not Fogarty's to sell. Det Garda Cullinane then gave evidence of Fogarty sending fake letters to courts in order to have his hearings adjourned. Judge Staines remanded him on bail to be sentenced at Clonmel Circuit Criminal Court on May 28.
Straits Times
20-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
The emerging ocean economy in South-east Asia
Offshore renewables are a key part of the emerging blue economy, as businesses invest in sustainable ocean-based industries to support climate goals. PHOTO: REUTERS Synopsis: Every first and third Tuesday of the month, The Straits Times analyses the beat of the changing environment, from biodiversity conservation to climate change. A healthy ocean is one of humanity's greatest defences against climate change, and businesses are now starting to recognise the importance – and potential – of the emerging blue economy. From sustainable aquaculture and farming practices, to offshore renewables and sustainable shipping, the ocean is becoming a frontier for innovation and investment. The involvement of the private sector can bring in much-needed funding to ensure that the oceans are managed sustainably. But what are the opportunities in this emerging sector, and is there a tension between profit-making and conservation? Tune in to this episode to hear more from Dr Alfredo Giron, head of ocean at the World Economic Forum. Highlights of conversation (click/tap above): 1:06 What is the blue economy? 6:35 What are the traditional and emerging sectors in the ocean economy? 10:22 How can opportunities in the ocean economy be made available to developing countries? 14:59 What are some examples of bankable ocean projects? 17:45 What do countries think of the potential of the ocean economy? 22:55 What is the appetite like among businesses? Follow Audrey Tan on LinkedIn: Read her articles: Follow David Fogarty on LinkedIn: Read his articles: Hosts: Audrey Tan (audreyt@ & David Fogarty (dfogarty@ Produced and edited by: Hadyu Rahim & Natasha Liew Executive producers: Ernest Luis & Lynda Hong Follow Green Pulse Podcast here and get notified for new episode drops: Channel: Apple Podcasts: Spotify: Feedback to: podcast@ --- Follow more ST podcast channels: All-in-one ST Podcasts channel: ST Podcast website: ST Podcasts YouTube: --- Get The Straits Times' app, which has a dedicated podcast player section: The App Store: Google Play: --- Find out more about climate change and how it could affect you on the ST microsite here.
