Kerry man ‘who travels around Europe committing offences’ is jailed for conning pensioners out of life-savings
The KerrymanA man has been sentenced to five years in prison after persuading an elderly couple to give him €93,000 of their life-savings on the pretence of repairing their house.
Separately, he was sentenced for a violent disorder charge against a pensioner at her Ballyspillane home on Christmas morning.
Denis Harington (49) of 99 Ballyspillane, Killarney and also listed at Maudlin’s Hotel, Dublin Road, Naas, Kildare pleaded guilty to three charges of deception, as well as charges for criminal damage and violent disorder at Tralee Circuit Criminal Court.
The court was told he has a record for similar offences in Europe and Ireland where he deceived victims into believing they needed work when they did not.
The court heard he caused an additional €70,000 in damage to the house of Anne Healy and John Murphy while pretending to repair and renovate it in May 2022.
“They worked for 40 years, nearly everything is gone in the space of a few days,” said Judge Ronan Munro in sentencing.
Mr Harrington was charged with criminal damage between May 4 to May 13, 2002 and three charges for dishonesty with the intention of gain by deception, where he persuaded Ms Healy to give him €15,000 on May 5 and €10,000 on May 13 and Mr Murphy to give him €13,500 on May 10 under the false impression he would repair their house.
The judge reviewed the facts of the case.
Mr Harrington first approached Ms Healy and Mr Murphy at their house in Windmill Crescent, Crumlin, Dublin, introducing himself as David Anthony and offering roof repairs.
He had a van advertising roofing solutions and a distinctive tattoo of an eye on his arm, which helped lead to his arrest.
The court heard Mr Harrington told the couple they had a rat infestation and he could repair the damage for €41,000. Ms Healy withdrew cash to pay.
News in 90 Seconds - 11 December 2025
Mr Harrington pretended to do repairs by damaging the rafters, which were “butchered” and destabilised the house.
He then returned multiple times in the coming days, receiving further cash payments for more promised repairs and renovations, like a new bathroom suite. No work was done.
The couple became suspicious and Mr Harrington was arrested the following March. Before sentencing, Mr Harrington took the stand to talk about overcoming an 18-year cocaine addiction.
He testified that he was sober for the last nine months, attending Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings three times weekly, as well as two weekly sessions at The Grove, an alcohol and drug treatment centre in Ardfert. He said he had completed a five-week in-house counselling programme, funded by his family.
“I can’t apologise enough for what I’ve done,” said Mr Harrington.
He told the court he would sell a site to repay his debt in monthly instalments, which would total €20,000 per year.
“And If I have more, I’ll gladly pay it as well,” he said.
He concluded, “I just wanted to change my life around. I hit rock bottom.”
Judge Munro observed there was no evidence of a land deal or documentation of his addiction treatment.
“All I know is, the money’s not back and these people’s life savings are gone,” he said.
The judge noted he could not adjourn the case again and he would proceed with the evidence before him.
“I think it would bring the course of justice into disrepute to keep adjourning,” he said. “I am having great difficulty believing what is being told.”
The additional house damage was covered by insurance but the deception placed an emotional burden on the elderly couple, the judge noted.
He quoted their victim impact statement, where Ms Healy said Mr Harrington and a fellow worker “seemed like ordinary, decent people” and she had felt embarrassed to tell friends and family what happened.
“It took me 40 years to get this and then it was just gone,” she said.
Mr Harrington’s record included similar convictions around Ireland, as well as mainland Europe, the court was told.
His repayment of €5,000 was “a drop in the ocean”, said the judge.
Talk of selling land in Mayo was not to be believed, he said. “Hasn’t happened, not going to happen.”
He added, “He sensed weakness and went back again and again and again.”
Mr Harrington, who was on bail, “showed no mercy”, said the judge.
The judge acknowledged Mr Harrington’s poor health and a guilty plea. “But his record speaks for itself. He travels around Europe committing offences.”
He sentenced him to three years for deception and four for criminal damage, suspending the last two-and-a-half so he could get treatment upon release.
The criminal damage appeared “wanton”, said Judge Munro.
“He did it because he could,” he said. “He did it to make it look like he’s working. He could have swindled them without trying to damage their house.”
The sentences will run consecutively and are backdated to November 26 when he went into custody.
“Notwithstanding his crimes, he does have people in his life who love and support him,” said the judge.
The judge also addressed the violent disorder incident from Christmas morning 2020 involving a family feud in Ballyspillane.
The court heard Mr Harrington was amongst a group who went to the house of Theresa O’Brien and her two adult special-needs children. It was said the men carried items including a metal bar and a slash hook and Mrs O’Brien was assaulted when she went outside to defend herself.
Mr Harrington went with a weapon but did not use it, the court heard.
In sentencing, Judge Munro noted the assault of a 70-year-old woman in her home on Christmas morning was “hard to fathom”.
But Mrs O’Brien came to court to speak favourably of Mr Harrington and she had made a full recovery, said the judge.
Taking this and his guilty plea into account, Judge Munro reduced a two-year sentence to 18 months, with twelve months suspended “mainly because Mrs O’Brien has spoken up for him”.