Tralee man faces deception charges over gardening work in Cork and Kerry

The matter has been put back to March 5 to Killarney District Court for directions from the DPP and to decide on jurisdiction.

Directions from the DPP are awaited in relation to a number of alleged theft and deception charges over gardening works in Cork, Killarney, and two other locations in Co Kerry, a court has heard.

John Burke, aged 21, of Rathonane, Monavalley, Tralee, is before the District Court in Killarney on six counts, five of which set out that he obtained cash from different individuals by deception for gardening works contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

A sixth charge relates to the theft of diesel in Dunmanway, Co Cork.

Investigating Garda James Daly, at an earlier sitting of Listowel District Court, had set out the charges and there had been an objection to bail, Killarney District Court was told.

The allegations are that between May 25, 2023 and June 6 at Ardmoniel, Killorglin, Mr Burke had induced a named individual to pay out €700 in cash for gardening work; that on May 3 at Boulia, Firies, Killarney, he induced a named woman to pay €700 again for gardening works; on August 18 at Meadowgrove Westwood, Carrigaline, Cork, he induced another individual to pay €300 for gardening; on August 31 at St Stephens’s Park in Castleisland, Co Kerry, he induced another person to pay €1,000 in cash for gardening works to be carried out, and on September 3 at a house in Madam’s Height, Aghadoe, Killarney, he had induced a woman to pay €600 also for gardening work to be carried out.

Mr Burke is also facing a theft charge of stealing diesel to the value of €60 at Galvin’s Filling Station Dunmanway Co Cork on July 4.

Inspector Stephen O’Brien, prosecuting, said the deception charges involved several injured parties and DPP directions are awaited.

"There may be other charges as well," Insp O’Brien told Judge David Waters.

Judge Waters said he would need to hear facts in relation to age and vulnerability and "was there pressure involved" before he decided on jurisdiction.

The matter has been put back to March 5 to Killarney District Court for directions from the DPP and to decide on jurisdiction.

Solicitor Padraig O’Connell said bail had been granted.