Man given time to pay shop owner for cancelled cheque

THE case against a Romanian national who cashed a cancelled cheque was adjourned at Gorey District Court last week to give him time to repay the money.

The court heard how 25-yearold Sorin Petrovici of 15 A Hospital Lane, Enniscorthy, went into Martin’s Shop in Tomnalossett on November 19, 2013, and asked Hugh Martin to cash a cheque for €391. It later turned out it was previously cancelled.

He pleaded guilty. Judge Gerard Haughton was told he had been paid by Slaney Farms for casual work. He then phoned them and said he didn’t get it, so they cancelled it and issued a new one.

He subsequently cashed the cancelled cheque. He later paid €50 to the shop owner, but there had been no further payments.

Solicitor Ed King said that on the day the matter came to the attention of his employer, he signed a document to say he owed the money to Mr Martin.

He said his client has been in the country since 2008 and has two children.

His wife lives in Italy, and he lives in Enniscorthy with his mother and sisters. He said a €200 cash lodgement made at the bail hearing could be used for the compensation.

This would leave a balance of €141, and he asked for time to come up with it. Judge Haughton adjourned the case until September 6. ‘If it’s paid, I will deal with it by way of a fine,’ he said.