This article is from page 74 of the 2006-03-07 edition of The Clare People. OCR mistakes are to be expected so download the original SWF or the rendered page 74 JPG
FRAUD leads to economic chaos if it is left unchecked, a judge said, as he warned a man who admitted several offences that he would face jail if he re-offended.
Judge Carroll Moran was speaking at Ennis Circuit Court, in the case of Patrick McNamara (29), from Miltown Malbay, who currently lives at Lisdeen, Kilkee. He pleaded guilty to several charges on various dates in 2004.
McNamara, described by his barrister as “a rogue who wants to retire” was warned he was facing a possible three year sentence if he failed to keep out of trouble.
The court was told he used cheques and a credit card belonging to another person at a number of premises in Ennis, Newmarket and Ennistymon.
Garda Brian O’Donnell said the accused took a chequebook from a guesthouse in Ennis.
He admitted writing cheques and wrote the name of the woman who owned the chequebook on them. He signed his own name on the back of them.
He cashed several of the cheques at two premises in Ennis while he also used the woman’s credit card without her consent.
The garda said the total amount taken from the woman’s credit card and cheque accounts was in excess of €16,000, most of which had been paid back to her by her bank.
“The majority of times he was paying off bills and debts for other people. He benefited very little himself,” said the garda.
The accused paid back a loan for his brother and got new tyres fitted onto a friend’s car.
Gda Michael Burke said the accused obtained goods valued at €3,429 at a Newmarket-on-Fergus business, using his brother Brendan’s laser card, in July 2004.
He also used the laser card on four occasions in a business in Ennistymon in October 2004 and the transactions amounted to almost €500 in total.
The accused said the card had been given to him by his brother but his brother disputed this.
The court was told the accused had several previous convictions for a number of offences, including for false pretences and deception.
Defence Counsel Mark Nicholas said his client was a “black sheep, lonely character” has been ostracised from his family. He lived in squalor and never intended to take from individuals.
Judge Moran adjourned the case until July.
“I am thinking of a sentence of three years. Let’s see what happens in the meantime,” he said.