A man “frogmarched” an elderly man to an ATM to get him to withdraw €800 for cleaning his gutters, Tallaght Court has heard.
Refusing jurisdiction in the case, Judge Anthony Halpin told Tallaght Court yesterday that the allegations were “disgusting”.
Patrick O’Brien (30), Hillview Drive, Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick, is charged with inducing a man in Rathfarnham to pay him €600 on March 22nd. Garda Sgt Bernard Jones told the court that the DPP had directed summary disposal.
He said it would be alleged that O’Brien and another man called to the elderly man’s house and offered to clean his gutters for €35. A few minutes later they returned and said it would be a “bigger job” and it would cost €800.
Daily limit
He said it would be alleged that they brought the elderly man down to an ATM where he withdrew €600, which was his daily limit.
Garda Sgt Jones said it would be alleged that they went back to the man’s house where he was counting the money when his daughter rang. After hearing what was happening the daughter rang the gardaí. O’Brien and the other man allegedly then left the house.
O’Brien’s defence lawyer, Eddie O’Connor, asked Judge Halpin to keep the case in the District Court.
“How can I keep it in the District Court when an elderly man was allegedly frogmarched to an ATM?” Judge Halpin asked. “It is a disgusting thing to do. How would you feel if it happened to your father?”
He remanded O’Brien on bail to January for service of his book of evidence.