Court archive
Court reports mentioning Abbeyfeale, Limerick
2022-07-22 · Dublin
Patrick O'Brien, aged 39, was sentenced to four and a half years in prison for defrauding a 72‑year‑old woman of €30,590. Between January and March 2019, O'Brien and two accomplices posed as roofers, claiming to fix the victim's roof, chimney and install solar panels. They persuaded her to allow them onto her roof, then showed her a photograph of birds nesting in a roof to convince her that work was needed. The woman withdrew €2,500 from her bank and repeatedly gave money to O'Brien, who acted as a money collector. The fraud ended when a bank employee questioned the withdrawals and the victim was advised not to give further money. O'Brien was identified on CCTV and arrested in May 2020. He has over 70 prior convictions and is currently serving a sentence for a similar deception offence. Patrick O'Brien pleaded guilty.
2017-02-14 · Limerick
John Costello, 60, of Glenashrone, Abbeyfeale, pleaded guilty to possessing 450 rounds of .38 special calibre ammunition and 329 rounds of 9mm ammunition in a flat above the Coffee Pot, Abbeyfeale, on 21 February 2016, and to possessing three rounds of 9mm ammunition at his home address on 22 February 2016. The Special Criminal Court, hearing the case on 14 February 2017, found the total amount of ammunition significant even though no firearm was present. The court noted that the ammunition was discovered after a tip‑off from Costello's former partner following a domestic dispute, and that Garda investigations suggested the possession was linked to subversive IRA activity. Mitigating factors included Costello's cooperation, early admission and plea of guilty, and the absence of prior convictions. He was sentenced to three years for the first offence and nine months for the second, the latter to run concurrently, with both sentences back‑dated to 3 November 2016.
2017-01-24 · Limerick
In a Limerick case, John Costello, 60, pleaded guilty to possessing 450 rounds of .38 special calibre ammunition and 329 rounds of 9mm ammunition at a flat above the Coffee Pot in Abbeyfeale on 21 February 2016, and three rounds of 9mm at his home on 22 February 2016. The possession was discovered after his partner, following a domestic dispute, tipped off the gardai that ammunition was stored in the flat. The gardai obtained a search warrant, found additional ammunition in Costello's apartment in Glenashrone, and called him to the station where he admitted responsibility for the ammunition but did not disclose its source. The detective and the court considered the ammunition to be linked to subversive IRA activity. Costello had no prior convictions, pleaded early, and was remanded in custody until 14 February for sentencing.
2016-12-22 · Limerick
John Costello, 59, of Glenashrone, Abbeyfeale, pleaded guilty before the Special Criminal Court to possessing 450 rounds of .38 special calibre ammunition and 329 rounds of 9mm ammunition at Main Street, Abbeyfeale on 21 February, and three rounds of 9mm ammunition at his home on 22 February. The court, presided by Mr Justice Tony Hunt with Judges Martin Nolan and William Hamill, remanded him in custody until 24 January, when sentencing will occur.
2016-02-24 · Limerick
In a Special Criminal Court out‑of‑hours sitting, John Costello, 59, of Glenashrone, Abbeyfeale, was charged with possession of more than 700 rounds of ammunition. Gardaí arrested him in Abbeyfeale on 21 February after finding 450 rounds of .38 special calibre and 329 rounds of 9mm calibre ammunition on Main Street, and an additional three rounds of 9mm calibre at his home on 22 February. Detective Garda Michael Herlihy formally arrested Costello, explained the reasons for his arrest, and warned him that he would be brought before the Special Criminal Court. Costello was transported to the court, given a copy of the charge sheet, and read the charges while wearing a purple jumper. His counsel, Mr Dean Kelly BL, requested a mention and possible bail application for 1 March at 11 a.m. The presiding judge, Mr Justice Paul Butler, with Judges Flann Brennan and William Hamill, remanded Costello in custody until Tuesday morning.
2015-11-23 · Dublin
Thomas Coffey, 31, of Carlow, was sentenced to 18 months' imprisonment after pleading guilty to stealing €4,800 from 81‑year‑old Sinclair Downey in September 2013. Coffey, who had 19 prior convictions including four for theft, was part of a fraud ring that overcharged Downey for roof work. Garda Colleen Doherty described how Coffey and accomplice Patrick O'Brien called Downey's home, claiming he owed further payments for unauthorised work, and then accompanied him to a bank to withdraw the cash. CCTV footage captured the men waiting with Downey and receiving the money. Coffey was arrested in Kerry in November 2013 and later admitted his role after a mobile‑phone call was found. The judge described the offence as an "odious crime" and noted Coffey's psychiatric treatment at Kerry General Hospital. O'Brien, 32, was jailed for four years for a similar theft of €14,200 from Downey.
2015-07-30 · Limerick
Patrick O'Brien, 32, of Abbeyfeale, was sentenced to four years' imprisonment after he defrauded 81‑year‑old Sinclair Downey of €14,200 in 2013. O'Brien had a history of 29 convictions, 12 for theft, many involving elderly victims. He and an accomplice visited Downey three times, claiming to repair a roof. They first quoted €80, then raised the price to €1,700, and later demanded €4,800 for a flat roof that had not been agreed upon. Downey, fearing tax penalties, paid the amounts and signed no contract. O'Brien was caught on CCTV cashing the money at a bank. Garda investigations revealed the work cost far less than claimed. O'Brien pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court; Judge Martin Nolan described the men as "preying" on Downey and imposed the sentence. The case is pending a similar offence in Tralee Circuit Criminal Court later this year.