Man admits €19,500 deception at Offaly building site

TULLAMORE Circuit Court has been told a man who deceived people into paying him €19,500 will pay the money back.

Martin Brady (56), Potahee, Ballinagh, Cavan was arraigned at Tullamore Circuit Court on Friday (April 17) and entered guilty pleas to five counts alleging that he dishonestly induced people by deception to pay him sums of money.

Defence counsel David Nugent, BL, said €19,500 was the total amount paid to Mr Brady and he was making efforts to “make that right”.

Mr Nugent said the defendant may need until October but would be in a position to make a part payment in June.

Sandra Mahon, Offaly state solicitor, said the matter could be adjourned to the Circuit Court sitting in November.

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Judge Ronan Munro told Mr Brady that everything he did between now and November would count towards how his sentence would be considered.

“It's a lot of money,” he remarked.

Four of the charges related to offences at Bretland construction site in Clara and they involved €3,000 in August 2023, €5,000 between January 1 and 5, 2024, €3,500 between January 31 and February 1, 2024 and €3,000 on February 21, 2024.

The people who were induced to pay those sums were John Hogan, Tom Brown, Ken Murphy and Padraig Cryan.

The fifth charge to which Mr Brady pleaded guilty was that he induced Brecon Daly to pay him €5,000 between February 1 and August 31, 2023.