Courts / Dublin / Report
Fake letting agent stole €12k from victims
Summary
Anthony Byrne, aged 40, was remanded on bail pending sentencing for a rental scam that cost victims €12,000. Byrne, who worked as a contractor, advertised a property on daft.ie under the fictitious name Stephen Cummings and used a doctored lease agreement from a real letting agency. He persuaded at least four women to pay €3,000 each in cash for rent and deposit, claiming it secured the property. Gardaí discovered the fraud after a victim reported the scheme; a search of Byrne's home uncovered the forged contract and other evidence linking him to the false persona. Byrne pleaded guilty to four charges of deception and false instrument use at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. He has no prior convictions, has resigned from his job, and has expressed remorse. Judge Melanie Greally remanded him on continuing bail, adjourned the case to 28 February, and ordered a probation report, noting the victims' financial and psychological harm.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Fake letting agent stole €12k from victims. Charges or matters: four charges of inducing another to pay him €3,000 by deception and use of a false instrument at Applewood Crescent, Swords, Co Dublin on dates between September 13 and 14, 2020. Procedural stage: charge_or_pretrial
When:
- September 13 Hearing Or Sentence
- September 16, 2020 Other
- February 28 Adjournment
- 2021-11-22 Publication
Why: Byrne told gardaí that his partner had recently lost her job because of Covid and he was on heavily reduced hours with work. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: four charges of inducing another to pay him €3,000 by deception and use of a false instrument at Applewood Crescent, Swords, Co Dublin on dates between September 13 and 14, 2020 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Melanie Greally remanded Byrne on continuing bail and adjourned the case to February 28, next.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
Fraud Stage Charge Or Pretrial
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