Courts / Dublin / Report

Grandfather offered "cheaper" energy to householders by tampering with meters

Date
2016-01-29

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

James McLoughlin, 42, of Summer Street South, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to tampering with two Bord Gais gas meters and an ESB electricity meter between July 2013 and February 2014, and to possessing a stolen Bord Gais meter. He also admitted interfering with a Bord Gais meter on Benbulbin Road between March and May 2013. McLoughlin offered householders a "cheaper" energy service by allowing free gas flow, charging €100 for the service and advising a weekly €10 top‑up. Gardaí observed him visiting houses, obtained a search warrant, and found stolen meters and a drilled electricity meter. He exercised his right to silence at arrest. The case was adjourned for a probation and community service report, with the judge noting his mental health and addiction issues.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Grandfather offered "cheaper" energy to householders by tampering with meters. Charges or matters: criminally damaging two Bord Gais meters and an ESB meter at Summer Street South between July 2, 2013 and February 25, 2014; possessing a stolen Bord Gais meter at his address on February 25, 2014 and to interfering with a Bord Gais meter and ESB meter between June 26, 2013 and February 25, 2014; interfering with a Bord Gais meter at Benbulbin Road, Drimnagh between March 1, and May 31, 2013. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

July 2, 2013 Incident
February 25, 2014 Incident
June 26, 2013 Incident
March 1 Other
May 31, 2013 Other
February 2014 Incident
2016-01-29 Publication

Case subjects

James McLoughlin

Convicted Person

Charges: criminally damaging two Bord Gais meters and an ESB meter at Summer Street South between July 2, 2013 and February 25, 2014; possessing a stolen Bord Gais meter at his address on February 25, 2014 and to interfering with a Bord Gais meter and ESB meter between June 26, 2013 and February 25, 2014; interfering with a Bord Gais meter at Benbulbin Road, Drimnagh between March 1, and May 31, 2013 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Photo: Collins) A Dublin grandfather who offered a "cheaper" energy service to householders by tampering with their ESB and Bord Gais meters will be sentenced later. Judge Berkeley acknowledged that McLoughlin has serious mental health and addiction problems and adjourned the case for a probation and community service report.; Judge Berkeley acknowledged that McLoughlin has serious mental health and addiction problems and adjourned the case for a probation and community service report.