Offaly man conned injured party into believing he had a property to let

A man who conned another man into believing he had a property to let took a deposit from the injured party.

Sergeant James O'Sullivan said that on September 10, 2022 the injured party handed over €550 to the defendant Jason McDonagh, (42) of 151, Arden View, Tullamore in the belief he was renting a property on the Arden Road, in Tullamore. Mr McDonagh had no such premises to let.

He had no previous convictions.

Judge Andrew Cody, described it as a scam and said he had deceived the injured party into believing he had somewhere to rent.

Solicitor Donal Farrelly said his client now regrets what he did.

Judge Cody questioned to what extent he regretted it since it had happened in August 2022 and he had plenty of time to compensate the victim.

Mr Farrelly said he accepted responsibility. He described Jason McDonagh as a 42 year old man with four children. He said he had been in bad circumstances at the time and had fallen into bad times. He accepts he took advantage of the injured party.

Judge Andrew Cody adjourned the case until the 2pm afternoon sitting last Wednesday to allow for Mr McDonagh to come up with the money he owed the injured party and warned him he was looking at six months in prison if he didn't. You had plenty of time to pay, he remarked.

Later that afternoon Mr McDonagh returned with €100 which he said he had borrowed off relatives. Mr Farrelly said that was all he could raise and was extremely anxious that he was going to jail.

Judge Cody put back to July 26 next for payment of the balance