A man has been sentenced to five years' imprisonment for attempting to obtain money by false pretences from Patrick Gillane, who was imprisoned for soliciting two men to murder his wife.
Bernard Hassett (53), of College Park, Athlone, Co Westmeath, told Gillane he could secure his release for a payment of £5,000. He was also sentenced to five years' imprisonment for attempting to obtain £3,000 by false pretences from the father of a prisoner by telling him he had contacts in the Department of Justice and could secure his son's release.
Imposing sentence at Castlebar Circuit Court, sitting in Westport, Judge Carroll Mo ran said: "These were very mean crimes. He was trying to secure money on false pretences of securing the release of prisoners in custody."