Wicklow fraudster’s sentencing delayed amid legal aid dispute

By Darragh McCann, The Wicklow People

The sentencing of a serial fraudster, who stole from his employer and was previously caught with fake Garda identification, has been delayed due to the ongoing criminal legal aid dispute.

Jamie Coey (21), formerly of Old Court Drive, Bray, and now with an address at The Lodge, Killaskillen, Kinnegad, Co Meath, previously pleaded guilty at Bray District Court to failing to provide gardaí with a phone access code, possession of stolen property, failure to appear and theft.

On March 19, 2025, gardaí received a complaint from a manager at FloGas that a former employee, later identified as Mr Coey, had been working under the alias Alex as a door-to-door salesman.

During his employment, Mr Coey stole a starter pack, which included a Samsung tablet valued at €400, a jacket worth €100 and an ID badge.

Gardaí executed a search warrant at the accused’s parents’ home, where they discovered a wallet containing several cards, including a Santander chip-and-pin card and an American Express credit card.

Mr Coey was due to appear on Tuesday, July 21 for the finalisation of his sentence, after Judge David Kennedy previously ordered a probation report.

The court heard that he had been directed to appear, but due to the withdrawal of criminal legal aid services the matter was adjourned until October 12.

Wicklow solicitors withdrew from legal aid services in June, as they believe the planned changes are unworkable and could undermine access to justice.

Judge Kennedy remarked that the probation report before the court “is not particularly good reading”.

Solicitor for the defendant, Brendan Maloney, previously said in mitigation that his client “comes from a hardworking family and has been hampered throughout his life by cystic fibrosis”.

He has 30 previous convictions for different offences, with him recently receiving a four-month jail sentence, suspended for 18 months, at Trim District Court.

The court there heard that he had pretended to be a garda to avoid paying a taxi fare and also stole petrol from a garage in Co Kildare.

Back in 2023, Mr Coey received a sentence at Dublin District Court after gardaí, investigating him as part of an inquiry into multiple thefts, discovered several fake Garda identification badges and photographs of him “dressed similarly to what gardaí wear on duty”.