Fraudster is ‘like Dunnes – branches everywhere’
AN ONLINE fraudster who has duped music fans around the country out of their money over non-existent concert tickets has a “Dunnes Stores-size business”, a judge said.
Judge Patrick Durcan made his comment at Ennis District Court where Aaron Moran (31) entered a guilty plea after duping Wayne Preston out of €240 for non-existent tickets for a Fleetwood Mac concert last February 7.
In September, Moran – of Rose Cottage, Turnpike, Ennis, Co Clare – was jailed for four months at Cork District Court for duping a Cork music fan out of €1,000 for four Electric Picnic tickets.
This was days after an appearance at Ennis District Court where Moran pleaded guilty to duping 26 music fans out of almost €8,000 for non-existent tickets for the Electric Picnic, Ariana Grande and Hugh Jackman.
Moran escaped jail for those offences when receiving a probation bond from a visiting judge.
After hearing of Moran’s latest victim, Judge Durcan said that Moran “has a very big business – a national enterprise”.
He added: “This is no cottage industry. This is a fella, he is like Dunnes Stores – branches everywhere.”
Judge Durcan said that there was one way of stamping it out and prison was the answer.
Garda Inspector Michelle Moloney said that Moran has 36 previous convictions “and a lot relate to deception”.
Judge Durcan told Moran: “Your behaviour is absolutely despicable.”
However, the judge stopped short of imposing an immediate prison term and instead gave him a six-month suspended term.