Plumber charged €3k to dig a hole in footpath

A plumber with a gambling problem was jailed for eight months for charging a woman more than €3,000 to install a bathroom when all he did was dig a small hole in the footpath.

“This was a very nasty, sneaky offence. He was given every chance to refund the lady and he has not taken it,” Judge Con O’Leary said yesterday. He jailed Bryan O’Leary, aged 34, of 24 Greenhills Court, South Douglas Rd, Cork, on three charges of theft.

O’Leary was recommended by a friend to install the bathroom for the woman at her home in Merrion Court, Montenotte, Cork. He called to her home and priced the job.

Inspector Mary King outlined what happened. “On January 12, 2012, the injured party paid over a sum of €1,700 for the purchase of materials for the necessary works. He returned for more payments. She paid a further €800 on January 17. Then, on February 21, 2012, she paid him €550. The monies were sought on the pretence by the defendant that he was getting further materials. The injured party made a number of efforts to contact the defendant to no avail, and reported the matter to the gardaí,” Insp King said.

Sentencing had been adjourned to give the plumber a chance to repay the sum.

Emmet Boyle, solicitor, said: “He has no previous criminal convictions. He is from the Douglas area. He became self-employed but was not able to regulate his affairs because of a gambling addiction. Essentially he is in financial penury.”