Cork man who conned three elderly people out of cash to do work on their homes is jailed

Defendant pleaded guilty last week to deception of an 88-year-old woman, a 90-year-old man and a third elderly person whose age was not disclosed

Court heard the 42-year-old defendant had a serious addiction to alcohol and cocaine and committed these offences to pay for his addictions. Picture: Larry Cummins

Conning three elderly people of cash for work they never sought and which was never done resulted in a 42-year-old Cork man being jailed for eleven months on Thursday.

Judge Mary Dorgan said on Thursday: “These were matters involving three different people who are elderly and I have to say the court was quite taken aback by the evidence, and very impressed by the victim impact statements.” 

42-year-old Jerry O’Sullivan, of 7 Hazelwood Grove, Kinsale Road, Cork, was given consecutive sentences totalling 11 months after he pleaded guilty last week to deception of an 88-year-old woman, a 90-year-old man and a third elderly person whose age was not disclosed.

The 88-year-old said: “I am just shaking all the time now,” after being tricked out of money at her front door by Jerry O’Sullivan pretending to be doing work for her at her home in Douglas.

She said: “On March 28, 2026, a man came to my house and took €350 from me and left without doing any work. The same man returned a few days later and tried to get more money off me to do more work. He stayed and tried to coax money out of me.

“Since the day this man arrived, I have been locking the doors all the time and I am afraid to answer the door. I am 88 years old and I am scared around the house. I am just shaking all the time now.

“I am looking out the window when the doorbell rings out of fear. This incident has very much affected me.” 

The 90-year-old man who was also deceived by Jerry O’Sullivan at his home in Douglas said: “On February 21, 2026, I was tricked into giving €100 to a man who said he would do work on my house. After this happened, I realised that the same man had tried to trick me out of money previously.

“I now know. I was way too trusting. I feel after this that I will not be able to trust anyone as much. As he came in over my gate in the past I would be concerned that he would return. I will have to get more CCTV. I should not have to worry about things like this at 90 years old.” 

Shane Collins-Daly, solicitor, said the 42-year-old had a serious addiction to alcohol and cocaine and committed these offences to pay for his addictions.

Recognisances were set if the defendant decides to appeal his sentence. Conditions included a €750 bond, of which €500 cash would have to be lodged, and he must stay out of the Douglas, Grange and Turner’s Cross areas, sign on twice a day at Togher Garda Station and abstain from intoxicants and from offending.