Retired man running 'forgery factory' gets suspended sentence

An retired man running a "forgery factory" making fake bank statements and payslips for loan applications, car documentation and ID cards has been given a suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

John Molloy (53) had started out making party invitations and curriculum vitaes after retiring due to ill health before being "pressurised" by people to whom he owed debts to begin forging documents.

Molloy, of Willow Drive, Clondalkin, pleaded guilty to eight sample counts of making fake NCT certificates, a false driving licence, insurance certificate, motor insurance disc and a P60 social welfare certificate at his home between February 2003 and February 2005.

Judge Frank O’Donnell said that by running a "forgery factory", Molloy was "undermining the structure of our society" by disregarding rules by which the rest of society have to abide.

Judge O’Donnell imposed concurrent sentences totalling four years which he suspended on strict conditions.

Garda Eamonn Tighe told Ms Lisa Dempsey BL, prosecuting, that he believed it was "a great relief" to Molloy when gardaí appeared at his house with a search warrant and confiscated forged documentation, computer equipment, specialised paper and paper cutting equipment.

Molloy told gardaí he charged €50 for a fake insurance certificate, €30 for a driving licence, and €10 each for tax discs and identification cards. He said people contacted him through "word of mouth" and he falsified figures on bank statement and payslips for bank loans "without asking questions."

Molloy told gardaí he had retired due to ill health and was "trying to make ends meet" for himself and his wife by supplementing his "sick benefit."

Gda Tighe said Molloy had no previous convictions and had never before or since come to garda attention.

Gda Tighe agreed with defence counsel, Mr Kieran Kelly BL, that Molloy had incurred debts as a result of drinking and as it was well known that he used a computer to make invitations, pressure was put upon him to begin making false documents.

Mr Kelly said Molloy, who is in serious ill health, wished to apologise to the gardaí and the court.