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.