Castlebar man used phone scam to deceive woman
The defendant pleaded guilty at Castlebar District Court.
A Castlebar man used a phone scam to deceive a woman out of €320.
Joseph Lawrence, aged 22, of Blackrock, Sion Hill, Castlebar pleaded guilty at the local district court to making gain or causing loss by deception in January 2022.
Sgt John O’Reilly said the injured party Jessica Allen went to Roscommon Garda Station on February 1, 2022, and made a complaint.
“She said she was browsing the internet on January 12 and saw a white iPhone 11 for sale for €320, which she believed was a good price,” he said. “Jessica decided to send a message and she received a reply from [the vendor], and he agreed to sell the iPhone to her.”
Lawrence, who used the name ‘Cathal Higgins’, sent his bank details to Ms Allen and she transferred €320 to him. He promised to send the device by post but she never received it.
After Ms Allen made her complaint to Gardaí, they were able to trace the scam back to the defendant who admitted to the offence. He has no previous convictions.
Solicitor Gary Mulchrone said his client had €320 in court.
“The motivation behind it was he concocted this ill-conceived plan to try and make himself some extra money as he was getting married in October 2021 and he was only on €117 per week,” he said. “He is very apologetic, and he made extremely detailed admissions to Gardaí.”
Mr Mulchrone said his client is now married and currently completing an employment course, after which he hopes to secure a job.
Judge Fiona Lydon said she would be willing to apply the Probation Act if Lawrence donates €300 to the Irish Cancer Society by April 17 next.
