Courts / Limerick / Report

Serial fraudster given 'one last chance'

Date
2020-12-18

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Limerick

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Limerick resident Pat Sheedy, 51, faced a new fraud charge after admitting he scammed a Westmeath publican, Con Gilsenan, out of €548 by promising four "premium" rugby match tickets that never arrived. Sheedy had previously pleaded guilty to the theft in January 2019 and had a history of 59 fraud convictions, many involving deception. He has a chronic gambling addiction and has engaged in treatment since custody. Judge Karen O'Connor, after hearing the victim's distress, granted Sheedy a "one last chance" by suspending a two‑year prison term for four years, conditional on maintaining peace and continuing gambling‑addiction treatment. Sheedy remains in custody for other offences, with a release date in January 2023. The court noted he had already repaid the stolen money. The hearing highlighted his ongoing struggle with gambling and the court's willingness to offer a conditional reprieve.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Serial fraudster given 'one last chance'. Charges or matters: the theft of €548 from Westmeath publican Con Gilsenan. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

January 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
February 2019 Other
January 2023 Other
January 6 Other
June 5, 2007 Hearing Or Sentence
June 21, 2007 Incident
2020-12-18 Publication

Case subjects

Pat Sheedy

Convicted Person

Charges: the theft of €548 from Westmeath publican Con Gilsenan (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: In 2010, Sheedy received a four-year suspended sentence after admitting his part in a €10,000 fraud scam. Judge Tony Hunt suspended the sentence on condition that Sheedy continued regular attendance at Bushy Park Treatment Centre and Gamblers Anonymous for the next three years.