Courts / Dublin / Report
Couple who lost savings treated with 'contempt' by uninsured builder
Summary
In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, Simon Dominican Byrne, 40, received a two‑year suspended sentence for two counts of deception after he falsely presented insurance certificates to Mary Ring, who had engaged him to build an extension on her home. Byrne claimed to be insured, but the certificates were fabricated, and he was uninsured when he began work. Ring said the deception caused her and her husband to lose their savings and forced them to live in a home without heating. Byrne admitted the mistake, citing debt and mental health issues, and the judge noted his personal stress and family responsibilities. The judge imposed concurrent two‑year sentences, suspended in full, with strict conditions including probation and therapy. The case remains subject to ongoing civil proceedings regarding the loss suffered by the homeowners.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Couple who lost savings treated with 'contempt' by uninsured builder. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- May 26, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- May 2019 Other
- June 2019 Other
- November 2020 Incident
- 2022-07-12 Publication
Why: A dispute arose between Byrne and the couple a month after he began working on the site and when the couple tried to claim on his insurance – because they believed they had incurred expenses – they discovered he was uninsured. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Outcome: Simon Dominican Byrne (40) of Swanbrook, Bray, Co Wicklow, received a two-year suspended sentence today after pleading guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of deception in that he induced Mary Ring to accept an insurance certificate as genuine and as a consequence caused a loss to Ms Ring on May 26, 2019. She sentenced Byrne to a term of two years on each count to run concurrently and suspended those sentences in full on strict conditions, including that he engage with the Probation Service for 12 months.
Places mentioned
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