A Co Leitrim man, described as an optimist who "robbed Peter to pay Paul", has been sentenced to two years in prison after he admitted larceny and fraud charges totalling more than €576,000.
Shane Matthews (44), Attyrory, Carrick-on-Shannon, had pleaded guilty to the larceny of three motor cruisers and to five counts of obtaining money by false pretences.
Suspending the final six months of the two-year sentence, Judge John O'Hagan said yesterday he believed a custodial sentence was necessary to send out the message that you could not deal with other people's money in this way.
Carrick-on-Shannon Circuit Court heard that three times, Matthews sold a boat which was already sold to other people. The offences were committed over a two years, from 1998 to 2000. Matthews, who has been declared bankrupt, had been facing 26 charges but pleaded guilty to eight sample charges last November.
At the sentencing hearing, the court was told that the injured parties had lost more than €350,500. When the value of the stolen boats was added, the sum totalled over €576,000.
The crimes first came to light when a man from Howth made a complaint to the Garda in October 2000. He had paid Matthews more than €76,000 for a cruiser and had ordered certain additions and repairs, including a rosewood seat and mirrors.
When he went to take possession of the cruiser he found that another man had taken it away. It later transpired that this man actually owned the boat and was puzzled as to why mirrors and a new seat had been installed on his craft.
John O'Kelly SC, defending, said Matthews was not a high flyer. When he got into difficulties he started borrowing from Peter to pay Paul. "He did the wrong thing and dug himself into a hole and people lost money."
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