Man jailed for posing as driver theory test candidate in learner permit fraud
Niamh O’Donoghue
A man who was sentenced for an assault last week has been jailed for another four months for conspiring to pose as driver theory test candidates as part of a fraud related to learner permits.
Ronaldo Lupo (24) of Rusheeney Avenue, Clonsilla pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of conspiracy on dates between September 14th, 2018 and June 28th, 2022.
Last week, he was jailed for two years and nine months for assaulting two females at a party, the court heard. This four-month sentence imposed on him on Monday will run consecutively to that. He has 53 previous convictions.
Detective Garda Barry Cormack told the court that Lupo sat 10 driver theory tests and was paid €250 euro each time. He benefitted to the tune of €2,500 in total.
The court heard 124 separate tests were undergone by the parties involved. A number of people have been dealt with by the court already and one is due to be sentenced in January.
The court heard all the accused were from eastern Europe. A person would contact the group and pay €2,000 - €2,500 for the theory test to be sat on their behalf. One of the group would book a slot to undergo a test.
A false Romanian identity document would be presented and a driver theory test certificate would be issued, the court heard.
Passing sentence on Monday, Judge Martin Nolan said the accused was part of a group “exploiting other people” in passing their driving test.
The judge said it was organised by a third party and the accused did 10 tests and benefitted to the tune of €2,500. He noted the court gave him two years and nine months last week for assault.
Judge Nolan said Lupo was serving a “reasonably long prison term” and that his co-accused received a one-year sentence. The judge said if Lupo “had come here simpliciter” “he may have gotten that” but he said he would instead extend his stay in prison by four months.
Defence counsel, Oisin Clarke BL, told the court Lupo was sentenced last Thursday to two years and nine months imprisonment for assault two females at a party. Mr Clarke told the court Lupo punched one of the women.
The garda agreed with Mr Clarke that Lupo had just turned 18, “was young and stupid” and “wasn’t involved in organising the tests or collecting money”. He said his client had expressed remorse.
