A Cork insurance broker who pleaded guilty to 15 counts of fraud and forgery involving £264,000 was jailed for seven years at Cork Circuit Criminal Court yesterday.
Andrew Casey (37), of Woodlands, Montenotte, pleaded guilty to the charges, which involved four clients, between October 1996 and January 1999.
Judge A.G. Murphy said the offences had caused terrible pain and anguish to people who had trusted Casey.
The court heard that the insurance broker had got into financial difficulties and had used the money from his clients in an attempt to revive his business.
He had raised £73,000 in compensation through the sale of his family home and by handing over commissions due to him.
The court heard a further £100,000 would be made available through a special brokers' compensation fund, and this would also be divided among the four people who had lost money.
One of them, Mr John Fuohy (67), said Casey had devastated his life's savings.
"I am now in a worse position than Andrew Casey," he told Judge Murphy.
