Courts / Wexford / Report
Former Vodafone fraud prevention head jailed over €2m fake invoice scam
Summary
Niall Barron, a 44‑year‑old former Vodafone Ireland executive, was sentenced to three years' imprisonment for a fraud scheme that deprived the company of about €1.95 million. Between 2003 and 2007, while serving as head of corporate financial services and fraud prevention, Barron used his authority to approve purchase orders and invoices for a company he owned, Tel‑Q Ltd, registered in Vanuatu. He ordered services that were never performed and paid invoices for work that did not occur. The court described the thefts as a sophisticated, pre‑meditated breach of trust. Barron pleaded guilty to sample charges under the Theft and Fraud Act. Co‑accused Elaine and David McGovern received suspended sentences and a nine‑month term, respectively, for lesser roles in the same fraud scheme. The case remains an ongoing civil matter for Vodafone.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Former Vodafone fraud prevention head jailed over €2m fake invoice scam. Charges or matters: sample charges, under the theft and fraud act, of making a gain by deception on dates from 2003 to 2007; three charges of unlawfully submitting incorrect VAT invoices for the company Consul-Tech for amounts €62,315, €71,390 and €68,002 on dates between March 2006 and January 2007. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- January 2006 Incident
- January 2010 Incident
- February 2002 Other
- August 2004 Other
- March 2006 Other
- January 2007 Other
- January 2003 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2003 to 2007 Other
- 2003 and 2007 Other
- 2016-10-24 Publication
Case subjects
Background Person
Charges: three charges of unlawfully submitting incorrect VAT invoices for the company Consul-Tech for amounts €62,315, €71,390 and €68,002 on dates between March 2006 and January 2007 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: David McGovern, both of Burrow Manor, Calverstown, Kilcullen, Co Kildare were also sentenced for what the court heard was their lesser role in the fraud scheme. Her partner David McGovern was previously jailed for nine months for his part after he pleaded guilty to three charges of unlawfully submitting incorrect VAT invoices for the company Consul-Tech for amounts €62,315, €71,390 and €68,002 on dates between March 2006 and January 2007.
Convicted Person
Charges: sample charges, under the theft and fraud act, of making a gain by deception on dates from 2003 to 2007; three charges of unlawfully submitting incorrect VAT invoices for the company Consul-Tech for amounts €62,315, €71,390 and €68,002 on dates between March 2006 and January 2007 (Alleged Or Contested)
Outcome: former Vodafone Ireland executive has been jailed for three years for his part in a fraud of nearly €2m from the company.
Convicted Person
Charges: sample charges, under the theft and fraud act, of making a gain by deception on dates from 2003 to 2007; three charges of unlawfully submitting incorrect VAT invoices for the company Consul-Tech for amounts €62,315, €71,390 and €68,002 on dates between March 2006 and January 2007 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Credit: Collins) A former Vodafone Ireland executive has been jailed for three years for his part in a fraud of nearly €2m from the company.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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