Killarney men charged over bogus tradesmen allegations

TWO Kerrymen have been charged in connection with a series of scams where bogus tradesmen have stolen thousands of euros in cash from elderly and vulnerable people living alone in Cork city and surrounding areas.

Denis O’Brien (29), from Hazelwood Drive, Ballyspillane, Killarney, appeared at Cork District Court where he was charged with a total of four offences arising out of the theft of monies from a 74 yr old woman.

Det Sgt Kieran O’Sullivan gave evidence of arrest, charge and caution in relation to Mr O’Brien after he charged him with four theft offences arising from an incident in Dillon’s Cross on the city’s northside late last month.

Mr O’Brien is charged with stealing €600 in cash, stealing a cheque for €4,900 and with stealing a blank cheque all from the woman in Brian Dillon Park on September 26th and with stealing €4,900 in cash from her on September 27 th.

Det Sgt O’Sullivan said that gardai were objecting to bail for Mr O’Brien describing him as “a man of means”, having seen where he was living in Killarney in the course of a search before arresting him on Saturday.

He was objecting to bail for Mr O’Brien on the basis he feared he would not stand trial if granted bail but would abscond to avoid conviction such was the the strong evidence against him including CCTV footage tying him to the crime.

Det Sgt O’Sullivan said he was also basing his objection on the belief that Mr O’Brien would interfere with witnesses, namely the injured party who was a vulnerable and elderly woman whom he alleged Mr O’Brien had targeted.

He said he was basing this belief on the fact Mr O’Brien knew where the woman lived, having allegedly called there before the incident at the centre of the charges and the fact that he had the woman’s phone number.

Examined by his solicitor, Eddie Burke Mr O’Brien said he didn’t know where the woman lived and didn’t have her mobile phone number and he promised to stay out of Cork city and abide by any bail conditions imposed by the court.

Mr O’Brien said that he was the main carer for his mother, Noreen who suffers from chronic lung disease and emphysema and he was anxious to obtain bail to be able to look after her.

Ms O’Brien took to the witness stand to confirm that her son was her main carer and submitted a letter from her doctor which she said confirmed that her son looked after her.

However Judge Kelleher pointed out that the letter from Ms O’Brien’s GP said that her sole carer was her husband, Michael, not her son, Denis but Ms O’Brien said that her husband was not in a position at present to care for her.

Meanwhile Mr O’Brien promised to turn up in court if he was granted bail and pledged to have no contact with an vulnerable 74 year old woman from whom he ‘s accused of stealing over €10,000 during one such scam.

But Judge Olann Kelleher refused Mr O’Brien on a number of grounds including preventing him committing further offences and he remanded him in custody to appear again at Cork District Court on October 14th for the DPP’s directions.

Earlier, Det Garda Brian Murphy had charged a co-accused, John Moriarty (25) of Ballyspillane, Killarney, with a total of three offences in relation to the theft of monies from the 76 year old woman at Dillon’s Cross.

These included possessing a cheque stolen from the woman and stealing €4,900 from her by cashing it on September 26th and possessing a stolen cheque belonging to her on September 27, all at AIB Bank, Patrick St, Cork

Det Garda Murphy also charged Mr Moriarty with possessing a stolen cheque belonging to an 86 year old woman and stealing €4,900 from the woman by cashing the cheque at Bank of Ireland, Little Island on September 3.

Earlier, Det Garda Dave Hickey charged Mr Moriarty with four counts of theft of sums of €4,500, €3,000, €5,000 and €3,500 from an 80 year old man at Lisieux Park in Glasheen on September 7th, 9th, 12th and 13th.

Gardai did not seek to have Mr Moriarty remanded in custody and Judge Kelleher remanded him on bail on a number of conditions including he reside at his home address and sign on three times a week at Killarney Garda Station.

Judge Kelleher also made it condition of Mr Moriarty’s bail that he have no contact with any of the injured parties or with his co-accused, Mr O’Brien and that he stay out of Cork city until he appears in court again on November 4.