Limerick man accused of stealing 10 cars and having them 'flattened' says he was 'following instructions'

A LIMERICK man accused of stealing 10 cars from a motor dealer and having them “crushed” has stated that he was “following instructions” allegedly given to him by another party.

Paul Curtin, aged 46, with addresses in Cappamore and Pallasgreen, both in County Limerick, has pleaded not guilty to 12 charges at the Circuit Court. These included one count of criminal damage, one count of deception and 10 thefts, allegedly from John Moloney Motors, which was located on the Ballysimon Road.

The alleged offences took place on December 20, 2019. Judge Colin Daly was informed that Mr Curtin is accused of “cutting through” a welded gate to “gain access” to the premises.

The Limerick native is also accused of then removing 10 cars from the site and bringing them to a nearby scrapyard, where they were then essentially “flattened,” allegedly for financial gain.

It is the accused man’s defence that he was “following instructions” allegedly imposed by Stephen ‘Bawn’ O’Sullivan, a man who previously used part of the garage site to sell used cars.

The trial continued on Friday, October 16, before a jury of six men and six women, where CCTV was played from the scrapyard. It appeared to show Mr Curtin in the company of another person bringing multiple vehicles in and leaving the premises without them.

In some of the footage, the accused is seen emerging from the scrapyard’s office with pieces of paper in his hand, before getting into the passenger seat of a recovery truck.

Limerick Circuit Court heard that a small sum of money was allegedly handed over for the 10 “crushed” vehicles.

It was prosecuting barrister John O’Sullivan’s case that these cars, which were “stolen,” were in an “unrecoverable state” and damaged “beyond repair.”

However, defence barrister Nicholas Hall said it was his client’s evidence that most of the vehicles were already damaged before being taken to the scrapyard. Footage showed that “a lot” of the vehicles “didn’t have wheels” while another appeared to have a broken window and raised bonnet, among other issues.

Mr Hall said they were in “various states of disrepair” in his opinion, when cross-examining Garda Nick Jones on the CCTV, which he acquired from the scrapyard.

He also put to the court that the alleged offences occurred in the “light of day” where there was plenty of footfall and other vehicles passing by.

It was alleged that Paul Curtin believed these 10 cars belonged to Stephen ‘Bawn’ O’Sullivan, who previously leased an area at the site of John Moloney Motors to sell used cars. Judge Daly was informed that this man moved the business out of this site several months before the alleged crimes took place.

It was also heard that during this time period, Mr Curtin had a business named ‘Cash for Cars’ which he was operating.

The manager of the scrapyard where the vehicles were “crushed” was called as a witness to the stand. He informed the court that this business in question is a metal recycler, which processes such material to be reused again and that most people who attend the site with items are paid for their metal.

The witness stated that shortly after 2pm, a woman, later identified as Judy Moloney who was in custody of John Moloney Motors due to her father’s ill health, came into the premises “cross” and enquired about recent cars brought to them on December 20, 2019.

Following this, the manager called Paul Curtin, who had attended the site a short time earlier, and told him that Ms Moloney said that the cars had been stolen. The accused then spoke to the woman on the phone and said this was not the case, that he had permission.

It is alleged that after the phone was handed back to the manager, Mr Curtin admitted to cutting the lock at the premises.

The jury heard that the money allegedly handed over for these vehicles was returned later to the scrapyard, who then paid Ms Moloney “as a gesture.”

Garda Jamie Jordan arrived at the metals recycler with a colleague after receiving a report. He made contact with Paul Curtin, who told the garda that these cars were removed “on request,” which was allegedly made by Stephen ‘Bawn’ O’Sullivan.

By the time gardai and Ms Moloney arrived, all cars had been “crushed,” the court heard.

Taking to the stand, Judy Moloney confirmed that she was in charge of the garage and cars during this time, as her father’s health was declining. He passed away less than a year later.

She said there was a “small degree” of trading during 2019 and that the plan was to sell all remaining vehicles and close the business.

Ms Moloney said she was notified of an incident at the Ballysimon Road premises and subsequently was made aware that the 10 vehicles removed from the garage were at a scrapyard. She went to this location and met with gardai.

The woman told Limerick Circuit Court that she spoke with Paul Curtin through the yard manager’s phone, who allegedly informed her that he was ordered to “remove any remaining vehicles that belonged to” Stephen O’Sullivan at the location.

The accused apparently told Ms Moloney that he did cut through the welded gate and that a new chain was then put in place by himself.

Both parties were not known to each other but Ms Moloney does know Stephen O’Sullivan, as he operated out of her father’s site for a period of time. She said things were left on good terms and that he “thanked” them when he ceased trading there.

The 10 cars were valued at €7,000, Ms Moloney said in a garda statement.

She agreed with the prosecuting barrister that the vehicles were not in the best of conditions but claimed that some were rare models. In terms of alleged damage, Ms Moloney said it was “standard” to swap out tyres on some vehicles and that others may have just required repairs.

Mr Hall, barrister for the accused, said it was his client’s view that these cars “generally weren't in very good repair,” with some allegedly being “vandalised.” Ms Moloney stated that a “good chunk” were "definitely fit for resale” and did hold some value.

She said that when she spoke to Paul Curtin on the phone regarding the cars, he said this was “all legit and okay” which “was not the case.”

It was Ms Moloney’s view that if Stephen O’Sullivan did want to remove any vehicles from the site, he would have said it to her, considering she had only been in contact with him just weeks before the alleged incident.

“It doesn't make sense why he would have told someone to break in?” she told Judge Colin Daly.

Ms Moloney confirmed to the court that the manager of the scrapyard did offer her a “few hundred quid” for the damages but that she was “so upset” in regards to the situation at hand.

The trial continues at Limerick Circuit Court before a trial of six men and six women this coming Monday.

Funded by the Court Reporting Scheme.