Courts / Dublin / Report
"Vulnerable" man spared jail for role in Electric Picnic ticket scam
Summary
Jonathan McLoughlin, 34, of Sheephill Park, Blanchardstown, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting deception in an Electric Picnic ticket scam. The court noted he was vulnerable, had a learning disability, and was exploited because he had a bank account. He withdrew €1,845 from his account, which was later distributed to the victims. The scam involved advertising tickets on Donedeal and an unknown man contacting buyers, with McLoughlin's account used for transfers. A total of €2,630 was deposited, much of which was withdrawn via ATMs. Gardaí stopped the account after the victims reported it. McLoughlin was not the orchestrator; the court imposed probation, stressing he was taken advantage of. No other person has been charged.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: "Vulnerable" man spared jail for role in Electric Picnic ticket scam. Charges or matters: aiding and abetting an unknown person in the commission of the offence of deception in August 2013. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 2013 Incident
- August 30, 2013 Incident
- 2016-11-11 Publication
Why: Judge Patricia Ryan said today that she wanted to stress that McLoughlin was not the "orchestrator of this scam" but was taken advantage of because he had a bank account and a learning disability. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: aiding and abetting an unknown person in the commission of the offence of deception in August 2013 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: At the sentence hearing Detective Garda Patrick Traynor agreed with Lorcan Staines BL, defending, that although McLoughlin told gardaí he would "take the rap", officers weren't "totally convinced" by his admissions and were satisfied that someone else was involved.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Sheephill Park
- Blanchardstown
- Dublin
Topics
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