A young man was conned into handing over more than €5,000 for the purchase of a vehicle which had been up for sale on a country road and had been reported stolen in England two years previously, the Galway District Court heard this week.
Owen Maughan with an address as 56 Ros Geal, Rahoon, was summoned to appear before Judge Mary Fahy last Monday for the offence of dishonestly by deception inducing Thomas O’Toole to pay €5,200 in cash for a vehicle that had been stolen with the intention of making gain on September 29, 2006, at Seershin, Furbo, Spiddeal.
Sgt Michael Conroy told the court that the vehicle had been left parked near a restaurant in Spiddeal with a sign for sale. He said that a local man phoned the provided mobile number and made arrangements to pay €5,200. Transfer of ownership documents were then sent to the Vehicle Registration Unit in Shannon where it was discovered that there was another vehicle with the same registration number; this second vehicle was in Dublin. When Mr O’Toole was notified of this he in turn informed gardai.
Sgt Conroy went to Killroe West in Spiddal where he examined the registration plate. He then took possession of the suspect vehicle and an inspection was carried out. It was established that the vehicle was “bearing false plates”. Sgt Conroy said that the vehicle had been stolen in England in 2004, and had originally been a Vauxhall but by then had “markings of a Renault”. After investigation the defendant was arrested on February 20, 2007. He was detained at Galway Garda Station where he first denied all knowledge of having this vehicle or having sold it. He also refused to take part in a formal ID parade but this later took place and he was identified by the purchaser of the vehicle and the file was sent to the DPP.
Inspector Mick Coppinger added that Mr O’Toole was out of pocket to the tune of €5,200 in cash. He said that in October 2006 they took possession of the vehicle and following investigation a police property application had been made and it was returned to the original owner.
Defence solicitor Valerie Corcoran had earlier explained to Judge Fahy that her client had pleaded guilty to the charges at a court sitting in Spiddeal last Friday (October 10 ) and had paid €1,500 compensation. He had been ordered to pay the remaining balance by last Monday but was unable to come with the full amount.
“You have a choice, either you pay all the money or go to Castlerea. If the money is not forthcoming then a custodial sentence will be imposed,” warned Judge Fahy.
Later that day, the defendant handed over a further €1,700 and he was remanded on continuing bail until November 3 and ordered to pay the remaining €2,000 to the injured party.
