A cleaner who took money from homeowners to clean gutters but failed to carry out the work has been convicted and fined €500. Our white collar crime solicitors advise and defend clients facing theft, fraud and deception charges in the District Court and beyond.
Thomas Connors, 29, of Ballyhenry, Cullenmore Bends, Ashford, Co Wicklow, admitted making gain or causing loss by deception.
Balbriggan District Court heard that Garda Mark Treanor was on patrol at Hamlet Lane in Balbriggan on April 2, 2024 when a person approached him and said he had paid Connors €80 to clean his gutters, but the work had not been done.
Garda Treanor said he was speaking to that injured party when a second person approached and said he had paid Connors €50 for the same type of work, which had also not been completed.
The court heard that Garda Treanor stopped Connors in his van while he was doing work on Main Street in Balbriggan.
Defence solicitor Carol Slattery said there had been an element of misunderstanding with the injured parties about when the work would be done, but that Connors was taking full responsibility for what happened.
Ms Slattery said this was not a sophisticated crime and asked the judge to be lenient.
The court heard that Connors is a father of six and that the money was seized by gardaí on the day so it could be returned to the injured parties.
Judge Stephanie Coggans convicted and fined Connors €500, describing the behaviour as "not very nice".