A man who embezzled €14,000 by fraud and menaces from a couple, leading them to wind up their business and postpone their wedding, was jailed for two years in the Circuit Court in Athlone this week (May 18 ).
John Nevin (31 ), with an address at 124, Raithin, Ashe Road, Mullingar had, on March 25, 2006, promised a young couple who were hoping to open a country pub that for €6,000 he could supply them with cheap liquor, but then contacted them a week later to say how this deal had fallen through and that if they didn’t come up with an additional €8,000 to buy back the first consignment, their lives might be in danger.
Nevin was in the Circuit Court for sentencing after being found guilty in the District Court in Mullingar on January 20, but promised to have €10,000 in partial restitution by March 25.
However, in evidence given by Detective-Garda Patrick Thornton this week, Nevin didn’t show in court on that date, and that he “had no idea where he was”. Det-Garda Thornton went on to tell the court how the named victims’ business was winding up in June “and they’ve postponed getting married for another year”.
Under oath, Nevin told Judge Michael White the reason he hadn’t turned up in court on March 25 was that two of his children were scheduled for operations in Temple Street in April and he was afraid if had turned up on March 25 he might have been jailed and would miss the operation date in April. He suggested that as he and his partner were on the dole he could only manage a repayment of €60 per week.
Judge White pointed out that Nevin had demanded money with menaces and that his excuse that there was a third party involved was “spurious”.
“He has made two promises to repay the money in the last two years,” said the judge.
“He told them he’d get them cheap liquor then the couple get a phone call to say a third party had lost the liquor and they’d have to find an extra €8,000 or they’d be in danger for their lives.”
“Prison’s no place for me,” said Nevin.
“I’m left with no choice,” said the judge as he sent him down for two years.
