Court archive

Court reports mentioning Rampark, Louth

2023-12-01 · Louth

Contractor who defrauded finance company out of €369k avoids jail for second time

In December 2023 the Court of Appeal upheld a decision that Pearse O'Connor, a 41‑year‑old contractor from Dundalk, would not serve jail time for a second time after a fully suspended five‑year sentence was deemed too lenient. O'Connor had pleaded guilty in April 2021 to six charges of invoice fraud and fraudulent trading, having used false invoices to secure €369,000 from Keys Commercial Finance to keep his company afloat during financial hardship in 2015. The original trial court had suspended the entire sentence and banned him from directing a company for life. The appeal court noted that the offence involved large sums over several months and that the custodial threshold had been crossed, but it also recognised O'Connor's ongoing efforts to reform, including addressing an alcohol problem and maintaining family responsibilities.

2023-11-17 · Louth

Contractor who defrauded financing company out of €369k should be jailed, State tells appeal

In a Court of Appeal hearing on 17 November 2023, the State argued that the fully suspended five‑year sentence imposed on Pearse O'Connor, a 41‑year‑old contractor from Dundalk, was too lenient for the €369,000 invoice fraud he committed against Keys Commercial Finance. O'Connor had pleaded guilty in April 2021 to six charges, including five for using false invoices and one for fraudulent trading under the Companies Act. The Court of Appeal noted that the fraud occurred over a short period but was carefully planned, resulting in a loss that grew from €186,000 to €622,000, with only €253,000 repaid. The State claimed the suspended sentence failed to reflect the seriousness of the offence and called for a custodial term. The appeal court will decide on 1 December 2023.