€250k fraudster had a wife, two partners and a girlfriend

A man who was married with three children; was engaged separately to two other partners; and had a girlfriend in Poland with another child was in prison last night after admitting fraud.

Conor Brannigan, aged 41, from Stafford Hall, Silver St, Nenagh, Co Tipperary, admitted defrauding his potential brother-in-law of €250,000 in a land deal. He pleaded guilty to three separate charges of defrauding James Hoare, a vet from Rooskey, Co Roscommon. The offences were committed in 2010 and 2011.

Detective Garda David McDonnell told Roscommon Circuit Criminal Court that Brannigan met Mr Hoare through the vet’s sister, who was his girlfriend. Brannigan told Mr Hoare he was an accountant used to acting in land deals and later stated he was a forensic accountant acting for a London- based venture capital company dealing in distressed properties.