Motor dealer convicted of selling ‘clocked’ car

A Dublin motor dealer has been fined and ordered by a judge to pay legal costs and €7,000 compensation for selling a “clocked” car.

Timmy Keane, aged 61, of Harold’s Cross Cottages, Dublin 6, had pleaded not guilty to selling a 08-reg Volkswagen Passat with an misleading odometer which had a reading 60,000km less than it should have been, on dates in April and June 2012.

Keane — who was prosecuted at the Dublin District Court by the National Consumer Agency — claimed he was not responsible for stocking cars at his family business, VK Motors Ltd in Harold’s Cross, and said he was no longer in control of the firm.

However, he was convicted of breaching the Consumer Protection Act by Judge John O’Neill.

The court heard the Passat’s engine “blew up” after it was sold to a second unsuspecting buyer.

Customer Joe Conlon told the NCA’s solicitor Michael Finnegan he paid €13,500 for the car which had an odometer reading of 110,500km in April 2012 from Timmy Keane at VK Motors Ltd.

However, the car’s service history and log book were “not forthcoming” and he later contacted another dealership which had previously sold the Passat. As a result he had evidence the car had been “clocked” and he said he went back to VK Motors where he was given a refund by Ian Marshall.

In evidence, NCA officer Deirdre Fearon said the car already had 171,000km on the clock when it was sold to VK Motors Ltd’s supplier, in March 2012.

The second customer, Umut Ertanaglu, told Judge O’Neill he bought the car from Keane in June 2012. The odometer had a reading of 113,256km, he said. He said the car did not last long as its engine “blew up”. He went back to VK Motors and spoke to Mr Marshall but was verbally abused.

The court heard another person had sourced cars for VK Motors and Keane, in evidence, claimed he had no knowledge the car was clocked. He also told his solicitor Declan Fahy he had not been aware the car he sold Mr Ertanaglu was the one that had been returned.

Judge O’Neill convicted Keane, imposed a €500 fine and ordered him to discharge the NCA’s costs of €2,500 and pay €7,000 to Mr Ertanaglu.