Not paying was ‘part of defendant’s make-up’

A man charged with making off without paying for business cards he had ordered was told by Judge Kevin Kilrane that making off without paying for services was part and parcel of his make-up.

Judge Kilrane made the remarks about Martin Joseph Sweeney (37) of 3 Mulberry Park, Ballinode who was charged with making off without payment from Core Print on May 26 th 2017.

The Judge said Sweeney was definitely a chancer “but a shrewd one” and that he had been at this kind of thing for awhile.

“Making off without paying is part and parcel of his make-up.

“He creates a bit of a squabble and if there is trouble later he tries to deal with it in the Civil way,” said the Judge.

Inspector Donal Sweeney said that on May 26 th the defendant went into Core Print to collect 5,000 business cards he had ordered having previous paid a deposit of €120. There was an outstanding balance of €120 due.

Sweeney took the cards and said he had to go to his car to get the rest of the mnoey but he never returned. The Inspector added that the defendant had previous convictions including for making off without payment.

The defendant claimed the cards had begun to peel and he was told to bring them back. He claimed the owner would not take the €120 off him after he left it on the counter and that he demanded a further €300.

Frank McGovern, owner of Core Print, told the court that the defendant had offered to pay for the cards with a credit card but the payment would not go through because it was damaged. Sweeney then left without paying and the Gardaí were contacted.

“He said he would be back in a few minutes and that was the end of it,” said witness. Later, Sweeney phoned to say there was a problem with the cards and he was told to being them back in. Days later he returned saying there was a protecting problem with them. Sweeney threw money at him and he told him he wasn’t going to pick it up. Witness also told him that he understood that the business cards had been distributed by the defendant.

It was put to the defendant by the Inspector that he was “a bit of a chancer.” “Some people call me that” - Sweeney. He went on to say that the Gardaí had been harassing him but that he did some work for some of them.

“Everyone seems to be against me. I don’t do drugs or rob people. If I’d pay the €300 I wouldn’t be here to day,” he claimed referring to an alleged deal for cigarettes he did with Mr McGovern for €300.

Judge Kilrane said he was satisfied Sweeney had thrown the money on the ground and Mr McGovern was right not to pick it up. Sweeney was given a four month jail term suspended for three years. He was also ordered to pay the €120 within seven days.