Man ‘conned’ sick woman in Portlaoise

A man was warned he would face three months in prison if he doesn’t fully compensate a victim by January. 

John Buckley, 67, with an address at 2A Oak Valley, Summerhill, Mallow is accused of making gain by deception in relation to a sum of €2,000 in legal fees in Portlaoise on May 25, 2017. He is also accused of taking a €12,000 bank draft at Lyster Square, Portlaoise for a deposit on a house at Rossvale on October 6, 2017, €4,500 of which was not returned. 

Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the injured party had been very upset by the crime. 

“This man, he basically conned a vulnerable woman who was sick at the time,” he said. 

He said the defendant had 12 previous convictions, ten of which were for road traffic offences. 

Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said her client had been ordered to pay compensation of  €12,000 to the victim  and had so far paid back €9,000 and the balance was €3,000. 

She said her client, who wasn’t present in court, had suffered a stroke and was gathering up  the money. 

“It is slow but he certainly does enjoy very, very poor health Judge,” said Ms Fitzpatrick. 

Judge Andrew Cody said he would give the defendant one final chance to pay the remaining €3,000. He adjourned the matter to January 5, 2024 and said if it wasn’t paid by then the man would be sentenced to three months in prison.