Former international boxer stole €3,500 deposit in Laois
The man took the deposit off a couple for landscaping a garden in Portlaoise
A former international boxer who deceived a couple out of €3,500 for landscaping services was jailed at Portlaoise District Court.
Michael O’Reilly (33) of Main Road, Clonkeen, Portlaoise, was found guilty of taking €3,500 from two doctors at The Avenue, Mount Stewart, Portlaoise, between July 25 and 26 last year.
He appeared before a sitting of Portlaoise District Court from Wheatfield Prison and the court was told he has been in custody since June. He said he was an enhanced prisoner.
“I am a kitchen worker and I am doing the best I can,” he stated.
Solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick said the injured parties in the case had given evidence during a hearing in relation to the deception. She said a probation report was due to be compiled in relation to her client.
She told Judge Andrew Gubbins that her client had done “very well internationally in terms of a boxing career” but difficulties arise when he is drinking alcohol.
“When he is on alcohol he is not good company,” she remarked. She asked him whether he now accepted responsibility for the deception and he said he did. She acknowledged that he wasn’t in a position to repay the money.
“I would just like to apologise to anybody that was affected by this,” he said.
“He would hope to return to his boxing career. He is still young,” said Ms Fitzpatrick.
Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said the accused had 101 previous convictions.
Judge Gubbins noted that a lot of the convictions were for road traffic offences. He noted a couple had paid the man a deposit of €3,500 to carry out landscaping work on their back garden and he “effectively disappeared” and wouldn’t answer their calls. The man had contested the matter in court and so gets no credit for a plea.
“You accept that you were the person who stole €3,500 from the innocent partners who were both doctors and engaged you,” he said. “You have previous convictions for offences involving dishonesty,” he noted.
Judge Gubbins said “they are without that sum of money and they will remain without that sum of money.”
He said the maximum sentence open to him was 12 months and he believed the appropriate sentence was 10 months. He granted legal aid and fixed recognisance in case of appeal.