Actions of ex-banker ‘low, mean, and despicable’

Low, mean, and despicable was how a judge described the actions of a banker turned financial consultant who deceived friends and acquaintances of €145,000.

John Hartnett, of Ballinvragnosig, Riverstick, Co Cork, said via his lawyer on Wednesday at Cork Circuit Criminal Court that he was in dread of prison. He had been remanded in custody to spend two nights in jail.

Yesterday, he was given a three-year jail sentence, which was suspended by Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin.

“This man pleaded guilty to a number of counts of dishonestly obtaining money,” said the judge. “He was operating some kind of investment or quasi-investment relationship with them [the injured parties] and the money disappeared.

“There were low and mean characteristics to this crime. People he knew, and he knew they were not wealthy, one was a widower with money that was to be put aside for future education. In another case it was a lady’s life savings. They were very despicable offences.”

The judge acknowledged Hartnett did plead guilty and that, in paying €195,000 to the injured parties, he was paying them back not just the €145,000 he deceived them of but the full amount of what he told them their investments would realise.