Latest news with #TheftandFraudAct
Sunday World
06-05-2025
- Sunday World
Scammer jailed for defrauding concert-goer out of half-a-week's wages in ticket ‘ruse'
Jason Whelan (35) was 'easily identifiable' by gardaí after the victim agreed to transfer the money into his Revolut account, a court heard A scammer who defrauded a concert-goer out of half-a-week's wages for tickets he never got in a 'premeditated ruse' has been jailed for six months. Jason Whelan (35) was 'easily identifiable' by gardaí after the victim agreed to transfer the money into his Revolut account, a court heard. Judge John Hughes suspended another three-month sentence on condition he pays compensation to the man, who said he no longer trusted people as easily, 'especially online'. Whelan, a father of three from Ferrycarrig Drive, Coolock, pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to deception under the Theft and Fraud Act on November 23, 2021. The court heard the victim made a report to gardaí after he bought a ticket for a concert, transferring €250 by Revolut to an account. He never received the ticket and gardaí established the account was Whelan's. In a victim-impact statement, the man said the money he lost was half-a-week's wages and he did not have the benefit of going to the concert either. It also affected him psychologically, in that he no longer trusted people as easily as he had before. Whelan had been 'easily identifiable' when gardaí investigated the crime and he apologised, defence barrister Lydia Daly said. He committed the offence because he was trying to obtain money to feed his drug addiction. 'He's got a good work ethic, but he went down the wrong path,' Ms Daly said. He had started taking drugs at the age of 12 and his main issue had been cocaine. Whelan had ended up homeless as a result and had been staying in hostels, but was now drug-free and in 'a better place than he was at the time' of the offence. The accused had worked as an electrician, at a call centre and in catering, the court heard. Judge Hughes said Whelan had been employed since the incident, but 'hasn't got a penny in court' in compensation. 'It's had a significant effect on the victim who was scammed by Mr Whelan in a premeditated manner,' Judge Hughes said. 'It takes a certain amount of time and premeditation to come up with the ruse of a ticket scam. He took half-a-week's wages from his victim and he's come to court without any compensation.' He suspended three months of a nine-month sentence for two years on condition that Whelan pays €500 compensation by November 23 and has no contact with the victim.
Irish Daily Mirror
26-04-2025
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man appears in court following €50,000 jewellery theft in Dublin
An alleged burglar arrested during a Garda investigation into the theft of €50,000 worth of jewellery from a high-end Dublin jeweller has been remanded in custody. Ionut Firica, 31, from Romania, was arrested on Friday morning and appeared today at Dublin District Court. Defence counsel Sam Friel informed Judge Catherine Ghent that his client "is only in the country five days" and deferred his bail application. Mr Firica, who has been using an address on George's Street in Dublin, is charged with entering Bespoke Diamonds on Kildare Street, Dublin 2 as a trespasser to commit theft on April 25. Garda Niamh Dunne told Judge Ghent that the man was arrested at St. Stephen's Green in the early hours of Friday, taken to Pearse Street station, and "made no reply" when charged. The officer confirmed that she would object to his bail. The accused, who has yet to indicate a plea, listened to the proceedings with the help of an interpreter and did not speak during the hearing. Mr Friel BL, instructed by solicitor Stephen O'Mahony, told Judge Ghent his client was not applying for bail at this stage. He was remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on May 2, and an interpreter was booked to attend the next hearing. Legal aid was granted. Mr Firica had been detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 for questioning until he was charged on Friday night and then held pending his court hearing. Gardaí sealed St. Stephen's Green Park to conduct a daylight search of the area. At approximately 6am, they located a bag and its contents, and the jewellery was recovered. The charge against Mr Firica is under Section 12 of the Theft and Fraud Act. No further evidence was provided by gardaí to support the objection to bail once the accused sought an adjournment and consented to go into custody. Directions from the Director of Public Prosecution must be obtained.
RTÉ News
26-04-2025
- RTÉ News
Man charged over €50,000 jewellery theft in Dublin city
A man in his 30s has been remanded in custody accused of stealing jewellery worth around €50,000 from a shop on Kildare Street in Dublin city centre. Ionut Firica, 31, from Romania, was arrested yesterday morning and appeared at Dublin District Court today. Defence counsel Sam Friel told Judge Catherine Ghent that his client "is only in the country five days" and is deferring his bail application. Mr Firica, who has been using an address on George's Street in Dublin, is charged with entering Bespoke Diamonds, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, as a trespasser to commit theft on 25 April. Garda Niamh Dunne told Judge Ghent that the man was arrested at St Stephen's Green in the early hours of yesterday morning, taken to Pearse Street station, and "made no reply" when charged. Gda Dunne said she would object to his bail. The accused, who has yet to indicate a plea, listened to the proceedings with the help of an interpreter and did not speak during the hearing. Mr Friel BL, instructed by solicitor Stephen O'Mahony, told Judge Ghent his client was not applying for bail at this stage. He was remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on 2 May, and an interpreter was booked to attend the next hearing. Legal aid was granted. Mr Firica had been detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 for questioning until he was charged last night and then held pending his court hearing. Gardaí sealed St Stephen's Green Park to conduct a daylight search of the area. At around 6am, they located a bag and the jewellery was recovered. The charge against Mr Firica is under section 12 of the Theft and Fraud Act.
Sunday World
26-04-2025
- Sunday World
Man charged with €50k jewellery theft was ‘only in the country five days', court told
Ionut Firica, 31, from Romania, was arrested Friday morning and appeared today at Dublin District Court. An alleged burglar arrested during a Garda investigation into the theft of €50,000 worth of jewellery from a high-end Dublin jeweller has been remanded in custody. Ionut Firica, 31, from Romania, was arrested Friday morning and appeared today at Dublin District Court. Defence counsel Sam Friel informed Judge Catherine Ghent that his client "is only in the country five days" and defferring his bail application. Mr Firica, who has been using an address on George's Street in Dublin, is charged with entering Bespoke Diamonds, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, as a trespasser to commit theft on April 25. Read more Conor McGregor shares video from anti-immigration protest in Dublin Garda Niamh Dunne told Judge Ghent that the man was arrested at St Stephen's Green in the early hours of Friday, taken to Pearse Street station, and "made no reply" when charged. The officer confirmed that she would object to his bail. The accused, who has yet to indicate a plea, listened to the proceedings with the help of an interpreter and did not speak during the hearing. Mr Friel BL, instructed by solicitor Stephen O'Mahony, told Judge Ghent his client was not applying for bail at this stage. He was remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on May 2, and an interpreter was booked to attend the next hearing. Legal aid was granted. Mr Firica had been detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 for questioning until he was charged on Friday night and then held pending his court hearing. Gardai sealed St. Stephen's Green Park to conduct a daylight search of the area. At approximately 6 am, they located a bag and its contents and the jewellery was recovered. The charge against Mr Firica is under section 12 of the Theft and Fraud Act. No further evidence was provided by the gardaí to support the objection to bail once the accused sought an adjournment and consented to go into custody. Directions from the Director of Public Prosecution must be obtained.
The Journal
26-04-2025
- The Journal
Man accused of stealing €50,000 worth of jewellery from Dublin shop yesterday appears in court
AN ALLEGED BURGLAR arrested during a garda investigation into the theft of €50,000 worth of jewellery from a high-end Dublin jeweller has been remanded in custody. Ionut Firica, 31, from Romania, was arrested Friday morning and appeared today at Dublin District Court. Defence counsel Sam Friel informed Judge Catherine Ghent that his client 'is only in the country five days' and deferring his bail application. Firica, who has been using an address on George's Street in Dublin, is charged with entering Bespoke Diamonds, Kildare Street, Dublin 2, as a trespasser to commit theft on 25 April. Garda Niamh Dunne told Judge Ghent that the man was arrested at St Stephen's Green in the early hours of Friday, taken to Pearse Street station, and 'made no reply' when charged. The officer confirmed that she would object to his bail. The accused, who has yet to indicate a plea, listened to the proceedings with the help of an interpreter and did not speak during the hearing. Advertisement Friel BL, instructed by solicitor Stephen O'Mahony, told Judge Ghent his client was not applying for bail at this stage. He was remanded in custody to appear at Cloverhill District Court on 2 May, and an interpreter was booked to attend the next hearing. Legal aid was granted. Firica had been detained under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act, 1984 for questioning until he was charged on Friday night and then held pending his court hearing. Gardaí sealed St. Stephen's Green Park to conduct a daylight search of the area. At approximately 6am, they located a bag and its contents and the jewellery was recovered. The charge against Firica is under section 12 of the Theft and Fraud Act. No further evidence was provided by the gardaí to support the objection to bail once the accused sought an adjournment and consented to go into custody. Directions from the Director of Public Prosecution must be obtained.
