Courts / Dublin / Report

Student accommodation fraud pair fail to show up to court

Date
2025-11-24
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

A man and woman who were due to be sentenced for student accommodation fraud in south Dublin have failed to appear in court. Michael Ward (33) and Melissa Collins (26) were scheduled to appear before the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court but did not show up. Judge Martin Nolan issued a bench warrant for their arrest. Ward, from Moyne Park, Moyne Road, Baldoyle, previously pleaded guilty to stealing €1,800 from a bank account between September 9, 2022, and September 18, 2022, in an unknown location within the State. Collins, from Cherryfield Walk, Hartstown, pleaded guilty to stealing €600 from a bank account on July 27, 2022, in an unknown location within the State. The District Court previously heard that the case involves fraud against a number of international students in south Dublin. The case has drawn attention due to the nature of the fraud and the involvement of international students.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Student accommodation fraud pair fail to show up to court. Charges or matters: one count of stealing €1,800 from a bank account on a date between September 9, 2022 and September 18, 2022 in an unknown location within the State; one count of stealing €600 from a bank account on an unknown location within the State on July 27, 2022. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Melissa Collins

Defendant

Charges: one count of stealing €1,800 from a bank account on a date between September 9, 2022 and September 18, 2022 in an unknown location within the State; one count of stealing €600 from a bank account on an unknown location within the State on July 27, 2022 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Michael Ward

Defendant

Charges: one count of stealing €1,800 from a bank account on a date between September 9, 2022 and September 18, 2022 in an unknown location within the State; one count of stealing €600 from a bank account on an unknown location within the State on July 27, 2022 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Places mentioned

Secondary Mention
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
  • The District Court
Residence
  • Moyne Park
  • Moyne Road

Topics

Fraud Stage Sentence Theft

Related court reports

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