‘They got a formula that worked’: Longford couple guilty of engaging in €10,000 fuel scam
Longford couple save the State a 'considerable evidential burden' by pleading guilty before Judge Bernadette Owens at Longford District Court
A husband and wife who were involved in a fuel scam that netted them over €5,000 each from fuel stations in the midlands during a two day period in each case have been handed a six month jail sentence and a five month suspended jail sentence respectively.
Martin McDonnell of 114 MacEoin Park pleaded guilty at Longford District Court to on dates unknown in November 2023 at Circle K Head Office, Beech Hill Office campus, Clonskeagh, Dublin 4 he dishonestly issued details for a business account for McDonnell Painting and Decorating to make gains.
The 28 year-old accrued a total of €5,323 from fuel stations in the midlands over a two day period by using three fuel cards that he used while knowing that he did not have the funds in his bank account to cover the spending.
Mr McDonnell pleaded guilty to 17 charges after a further 16 charges were withdrawn by the State.
Some of the charges the defendant admitted included stealing diesel valued at €195 and €182.83 from Corrib Oil, Racecourse road, Roscommon-check on November 24, 2023 during two separate thefts.
Mr McDonnell also pleaded guilty to stealing diesel valued at €423 from Corrib Oil, Strokestown Road, Longford on November 25, 2023 and to stealing diesel valued at €680.34 from Corrib Oil on November 26, 2023.
Mr McDonnell also admitted using a stolen fuel card on May 15 and 16, 2024 when transactions were made at Hanlon's filling station in Longford on a DCI card that had been stolen.
Sergeant Mark Mahon, for the State, said the owner of the card had not been aware of the transactions and a 'male was seen filling containers at Hanlon's and identified on the CCTV as being Martin McDonnell'.
The court heard the total loss due to the transactions was €500 in that instance.
Julie Nevin (28), also of 114 MacEoin Park, Longford pleaded guilty to 10 charges after a further 20 were withdrawn by the State.
The charges included that on dates unknown in November 2023 at Circle K Head Office, Beech Hill Office campus, Clonskeagh, Dublin 4 she dishonestly issued details for a business account for Julie's Carpet Cleaner to make gains.
Ms Nevin admitted taking fuel ranging in price from €9.52 to €891 from fuel stations in Athlone, Mullingar, Roscommon, and Longford.
Some of the charges included stealing diesel worth €217.70, on December 9, 2023 from Corrib Oil, Strokestown Road, Longford and on the same date stealing diesel valued at €127 from Circle K, Lisbrack Road, Longford.
She also pleaded guilty to stealing diesel worth €173.78 from Corrib Oil, Racecourse Road, Roscommon.
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Sergeant Mark Mahon, who outlined the facts of the case for the State, said Mr McDonnell made an application to Circle K Head Office, to obtain three fuel cards for his business McDonnell Painting and Decorating.
"Martin McDonnell gave his bank details for the payment of this fuel card to Circle K.
"During the course of the weekend, November 24 to 26, 2023 Martin McDonnell purchased €5,323 worth of diesel, unleaded petrol from a number of premises throughout the Midlands.”
Sgt Mahon said an aggravating fact of that offence was he was on bail at the time.
The prosecuting sergeant said Julie Nevin made an application to Circle K Dublin several weeks after her husband to receive three fuel cards for her business Julia Nevin Carpet Cleaners.
"Julie Nevin gave her bank details for payment of this fuel to Circle K.
"During the course of the weekend of December 9 and 10, 2023 she purchased €5,277 worth of diesel and unleaded petrol from a number of premises throughout the Midlands.
"Circle K attempted to obtain payment for this fuel but due to insufficient funds in her account they were unable to receive the payment."
Ms Nevin had three previous convictions.
Solicitor Aengus McCarthy said a relative of Martin's had helped Julia and she had managed to gather €5,000 in compensation.
Judge Bernadette Owens queried whether the full amount of compensation should be over €10,000.
Mr McCarthy said he believed it had been agreed with An Garda Síochána that the compensation could be €5,000.
However, Sgt Mahon said he spoke to the DPP to see what could be agreed and full compensation was agreed on the two separate matters.
Mr McCarthy said Ms Nevin had done her best to save money from her social welfare.
"The family lives in a council estate with three children and there is no trappings of wealth," he added.
Mr McCarthy described a probation report completed on Ms Nevin as being 'reasonably positive' and he accepted there was some level of discord in terms of the attitude to her offending.
"She appears to be an extremely diligent partner and mother.
"It's been extraordinarily difficult for her at home with three young children."
Mr McCarthy said Mr McDonnell had accrued a drug debt and the couple were ordered by criminals who are well-known to Gardaí.
"He was told you either pay us by December 2023 or you won't have a Christmas."
The legal representative addressed Judge Owens and said Mr McDonnell has been an 'enhanced prisoner' during his last nine months in prison and if an additional prison sentence is not imposed for these offences he is likely to benefit from early release and be reunited with his children in time for Christmas.
"I'd ask you to structure a sentence, if you could see fit, to allow the prison service to be in a position where they can consider letting him spend Christmas morning with his children."
Mr McCarthy, who referred to therapy Mr McDonnell had accessed to tackle his addiction problem, added, "He took it upon himself to go and get treatment."
The solicitor stated Mr McDonnell had a difficult upbringing and addiction was a feature of the family home, but after informing his cell mate what to write he had composed a letter outlining his desire to change.
Mr McCarthy said Ms Nevin had organised a repayment plan and she had never taken drugs.
"She is a responsible carer for three young children. She is asking you not to put her into prison. She is willing to do community service although it might be March (when Martin is released from prison) before she can do that."
Judge Owens gave the couple credit for their guilty plea and for saving the State a 'considerable evidential burden'.
"I also have to give credit that Mr McDonnell along with the intervention of his family has paid a substantial amount of compensation and I will also give him credit for how he has engaged during his period in custody."
"There is an aggravating factor that I think he may have been on bail at the time of these offences."
Judge Owens imposed a six month prison sentence on Mr McDonnell, which she backdated to March 24, 2026, when the defendant issued a guilty plea. She also handed down a six month prison sentence, which is consecutive to the term being served, however, Judge Owens suspended it for 18-months. She placed him under the supervision of the Probation Service for 18-months post-release supervision.
Judge Owens said she also felt there should be a repayment to society and she ordered a community service assessment before adjourning the case until February 2, 2027.
Judge Owens also commented while sentencing Ms Nevin that she could not ignore the same offending being repeated by Ms Nevin who copied her husband's scam. "They got a formula that worked and they repeated it," she added.
Judge Owens also ordered a community service assessment in respect of Ms Nevin by February 2, 2027. She imposed a five month jail sentence, which she suspended for 18-months because there was a 'second run of this formula' and she ordered her to repay additional compensation of €700 to the injured party Circle K.