Man,20, took card details to buy parts

A young man working in a garage took the credit card details of a customer and used them to buy a clutch kit and a trolley jack for himself.

Before the court was David McGinty, 22, of Ballymooein, Enniscrone. He pleaded guilty to possession of stolen property. Defending solicitor Mr John Anderson told the court his client who had no previous convictions had brought €500 with him to court. Inspector Donal Sweeney said McGinty had been working in Cassidy Motors in Charlestown in 2015. On July 22nd 2015, he ordered a clutch kit valued at €232 online and had it delivered to his home. On another date, July 23rd 2015, he ordered a trolley jack to the value of €91. For both transactions, the defendant had used a visa debit card belonging to one of the customers of the garage. He had obtained the details from the client over the phone.

Mr Anderson told the court his client had made full admissions and pleaded guilty. “He is a young man of 21 he is very apologetic with what he has done. He’s brought €500 with him to court.” He said McGinty’s employment has since been terminated with Cassidy Motors and he has recently got some part-time work. McGinty told Judge Kevin Kilrane: “I apologise for what I’ve done, it was stupid.” He had no previous convictions. Judge Kilrane said: “This is a very serious matter. In most cases of this nature there are aggravating factors. The whole basis of credit card dealing with customers and retailers is absolute trust.

“The details were handed in specifically to Cassidy’s believing that the info would not be us dishonestly to make gain fraudulently. Mr McGinty breached the trust of the customer and used the detailed for his own purposes, ordering two items from a supplier using the credit card hoping somehow that the customer would not notice.”

He said the aggravating factors speak for themselves. “The mitigating factors are he is a young man was only 20 when the offences took place and has no previous convictions.

“He pleaded guilty and has lost his employment which is understandable.

“He’s left himself unemployable for a certain length of time. I don’t want to destroy his life which could happen with a conviction of this nature,” he added. He adjourned for a Probation Report and said 12 months voluntary work may be considered in lieu of a conviction.