Two cousins jailed over forged cheque

Bank staff have been praised for their role in detecting a forged cheque that had earlier been amended following a deal between two men and “an elderly, vulnerable farmer”.

A court heard how first cousins Thomas Kealy and Thomas Kealy sold a power washer to a farmer living near Timoleague in West Cork for €200, and then amended the amount to €2,100 before trying to cash it at the Clonakilty branch of Bank of Ireland shortly afterwards.

However, Clonakilty District Court was told that staff at the branch knew the farmer, and were instantly suspicious. They refused to hand it back and also took the licence plate number of the men’s vehicle, which was later stopped at a checkpoint once gardaí had been alerted.