Serial Cork fraudster 'told a tissue of lies', says judge

Defendant duped three people out of a total of €10,000 to help his father, who was in financial difficulties, court told

Judge said defendant was 'on the precipice' of going to prison and had only finally come up with the compensation after he was remanded in custody for a week. Picture: Dan Linehan

A Cork man who duped three unsuspecting individuals out of a total of €10,000 did so to help his father, who was in financial difficulties, a recent sitting of Macroom District Court was told.

Padraig Barrett, aged 33, of Lisladeen, Berrings, Co Cork, had previously pleaded guilty to three deception offences dating from 2021 and 2022. 

The court heard on May 21, 2021, he defrauded an individual of €6,000, an offence contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

On February 6, 2022, he accepted €1,400 for the sale of a Citroën Berlingo van in Macroom, despite not being the owner of the vehicle. 

A further offence occurred on October 7, 2022, when he obtained €2,600 in Leap, Co Cork, by deception through the use of a cheque.

Barrett had previously agreed to bring €2,000 in compensation to court but failed to do so and a bench warrant was issued for his arrest. When he appeared at Bandon District Court in November without any compensation, he was remanded in custody.

Defence solicitor Sean Cahill said Barrett had finally raised the compensation by selling his van for €8,000, and the injured parties would be compensated, the court was told. 

The court heard Barrett carried out the deceptions to help his father, who was in a difficult financial situation. The court heard he did not have issues with gambling or drug-addiction.

Judge Joanne Carroll said Barrett had told the court “a tissue of lies”. She said at a previous hearing he had told the court he was earning £800 per week in Northern Ireland, which also seemed doubtful. 

She said Barrett was “very polite” in court but was also “very deceptive”. She said he was “on the precipice” of going to prison and had only finally come up with the compensation after he was remanded in custody for a week.

Barrett was remanded on bail to appear again on March 4, 2026, to allow time for the preparation of a probation report. 

Judge Carroll said “something doesn’t seem right” about the matter and she said she wanted “to know the truth of everything” when Barrett came before the court again next March.

This article is funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme