Courts / Wicklow / Report
Jail for man who promised girlfriend house but instead gambled away €22k of her money
Summary
Michael Williams, 45, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to falsely representing land for sale in Rathnew, County Wicklow, to Ms Eibhlin Butler. He convinced her to re‑mortgage her property and give him €22,500, claiming the land existed and would be purchased. The land was fictional; Williams gambled the money. Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to two and a half years' imprisonment with 21 months suspended, citing the generosity of Williams' sister who offered €10,000 compensation to Butler. Butler suffered financial loss, mental distress, and ongoing disability pension payments. The court heard that Williams had no prior convictions and was now working as a delivery man in the UK. The case highlighted a breach of trust and financial deception.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Jail for man who promised girlfriend house but instead gambled away €22k of her money. Charges or matters: falsely misrepresenting lands available for sale at Rathnew, County Wicklow to Ms Eibhlin Butler, on or about February 27, 2008. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- February 27, 2008 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 2007 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 2008 Other
- January 2010 Other
- Christmas Other
- 2018-01-11 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: falsely misrepresenting lands available for sale at Rathnew, County Wicklow to Ms Eibhlin Butler, on or about February 27, 2008 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Williams to two and a half years in prison with 21 months suspended, telling him what he had done was "extremely reprehensible". Judge Nolan said that he would not have suspended any of the sentence but for the fact that Williams' sister had offered to gift him €10,000 by way of compensation for Ms Butler for the losses she had suffered. "But for the generosity of your sister, you'd be going to prison for a very long time," said Judge Nolan.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- appointment at Dun Laoghaire Garda Station
Topics
Related court reports
- Career criminal jailed after threatening to kill woman during car-jacking
- Teenage driver of stolen car broke garda's hand during struggle
- Teen who rammed patrol car in garda chase is showing "significant improvement"
- Man appears in court charged in connection with weekend carjacking and robbery
- Serial abuser priest has jail term for 'predatory' rape halved on appeal
- Teen joyrider (15) drove wrong way down motorway, broke garda's hand
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request