Serial fraudster avoids prison after returning €10k to victims in Cork

A serial fraudster who duped three unsuspecting individuals out of a total of €10,000 has avoided a prison sentence because he has fully compensated the injured parties.

The accused man, 33-year-old Patrick Barrett of Lisladeen, Berrings, Co Cork, appeared for sentencing before Judge Joanne Carroll at Macroom District Court.

Barrett had previously pleaded guilty to three counts of making gain or causing loss by deception contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001.

On May 21, 2021, he defrauded an individual of €6,000; on February 6, 2022, he accepted €1,400 for the sale of a Citroën Berlingo van in Macroom, despite not being the owner of the vehicle and on October 7, 2022, he obtained €2,600 in Leap, Co Cork, by deception through the use of a cheque.

Barrett claimed he had carried out the deceptions to help his father, who was in a difficult financial situation.

Barrett had previously agreed to bring €2,000 in compensation to court but failed to do so and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. 

When he appeared at Bandon District Court in November 2025 without any compensation, he was remanded in custody.

In December 2025, defence solicitor Sean Cahill told Macroom District Court that Barrett had finally raised the compensation by selling his van for €8,000 and he was remanded on bail to allow time for the preparation of a probation report.

Judge Joanne Carroll said: “Really this man deserves to go to prison and if he had been one penny short he would have.” 

For the May 2021 fraud he was sentenced to 100 hours community service in lieu of five months in prison. 

For the fraudulent vehicle sale in in February 2022 he was sentenced to five months in prison suspended for two years. 

For the cheque deception in Leap he was also sentenced to five months in prison suspended for two years.

Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.