Thomas and Patrick O’Driscoll jailed for deception in Goleen

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Thomas and Patrick O’Driscoll were jailed for two years each for deception at Cork Circuit Criminal Court, reported on 3 November 2020. The brothers had targeted a woman in her seventies at her home in Goleen, Co Cork, after meeting her in Skibbereen.

The men persuaded her to write six cheques worth almost €25,000 for tools and machinery, while two cheques totalling €6,500 were cashed before the remainder were cancelled.

The brothers pleaded guilty and paid €6,000 each in compensation, with their barristers also offering bail money for the woman.

Judge Seán Ó Donnabhain described the offence as especially serious and said the men had invaded the woman’s privacy.

This report covers an earlier stage of the case. Later developments are not reported here.