Courts / Dublin / Report
Couple forged documents out of belief they'd never qualify for mortgage
Summary
In July 2019, a Dublin couple, Clare Ellis (34) and Gareth Boyle (32), pleaded guilty to attempting to obtain services by deception from KBC Bank after forging documents to secure a €239,000 mortgage. They had believed they would never qualify for a housing loan and had paid a "creative accountant" €2,500 for the false paperwork. The bank, suspicious of the documents, notified Gardaí, who found the couple cooperative and contrite. Judge Sinéad Ní Chúlacháin, noting the case was "not a highly sophisticated" deception, sentenced Ellis to 120 hours and Boyle to 100 hours of community service, replacing six‑ and five‑month prison terms. The judge highlighted that the bank suffered no loss but was misled, and that the couple's actions were driven by a desire to keep a roof over their heads and those of their children. The sentencing reflected the judge's view that the offence was "highly unusual and exceptional.".
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Couple forged documents out of belief they'd never qualify for mortgage. Charges or matters: a charge of attempting to obtain services by deception from KBC Bank. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- March 29, 2016 Other
- August 14, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2019-07-31 Publication
Why: By Seán McCárthaigh A Dublin couple who used forged documents to apply for a mortgage because they believed they would never qualify otherwise for a housing loan one have been spared a jail sentence. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: a charge of attempting to obtain services by deception from KBC Bank (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Sentencing them to periods of community service in lieu of a prison term, the judge described the case as "highly unusual and exceptional". "I don't condone what they did. Ellis and Boyle were respectively sentenced to 120 and 100 hours of community service in lieu of prison terms of six and five months.
Defendant
Charges: a charge of attempting to obtain services by deception from KBC Bank (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Sentencing them to periods of community service in lieu of a prison term, the judge described the case as "highly unusual and exceptional". "I don't condone what they did. Ellis and Boyle were respectively sentenced to 120 and 100 hours of community service in lieu of prison terms of six and five months.
Places mentioned
- Gurteen
- Gurteen Avenue
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- of Celbridge Garda Station
- Celbridge
Topics
Related court reports
- Man charged with having 56k child abuse images and videos remanded on bail
- Ex-Dáil hopeful's allegations against former employer 'complete fantasy', WRC told
- Mater must pay €10k to worker who said he was wrongly accused of abusing patient
- 'I think we know I won't be getting bail' - Daniel Kinahan charged with directing criminal organisation
- Letting agent who claimed alleged domestic violence victim abandoned tenancy by fleeing to refuge must pay €14.7k
- 77-year-old with 470 convictions told Luas staff to 'f**k off'
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request