Man admits trying to lodge €15k cheque obtained deceitfully from elderly Cork man

A Cork man who tried to lodge a cheque for more than €15,000 that was obtained deceitfully has pleaded guilty in the district court.

Michael O’Brien, aged 55, of Arch House, Rock Street, Cloyne, Co Cork, was arrested on a bench warrant and appeared at Midleton District Court.

Giving evidence of arrest, charge and caution, Garda Ronan Cogavin told the court that O’Brien said he was “guilty of handling the cheque but knew nothing about it”.

Court presenter Sergeant Linda O’Leary said that the incident happened on January 18, 2019, when an 89-year-old man was approached by another man about carrying out roof repairs to his property.

The injured party wrote a cheque for €15,500 for the repairs that were not carried out and subsequently recalled the cheque when it became apparent he was the victim of an attempted deception.

Michael O’Brien said that he was drinking in a park at the time and was approached by the third party who offered him €2,500 if he would lodge the cheque into his account.

The court was told that O’Brien had 22 previous convictions, including nine for theft. Defence solicitor Joseph Cuddigan said that O’Brien made full admissions in 2022 and was a “chronic alcoholic”.

He told the court his client had spent four years in treatment in St Vincent’s and had been living in Cloyne for the past eight months in accommodation for the homeless.

He said that O’Brien was effectively an accomplice in the attempted theft and did not profit from it.

Judge Colm Roberts said that O’Brien was an accomplice and facilitator and was trying to make gain despite the fact that he was ultimately unsuccessful.

He said it was apparent there had been improvements in O’Brien’s situation in recent years and he asked for a probation and welfare report to be prepared.

O’Brien was released on bail on his own bond of €500 and the case was adjourned to November 6 for completion of the probation report.

• This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme