A man who obtained nearly €40,000 worth of goods using cheques which he knew would bounce and then sold the goods on for a fraction of their worth has been sentenced to 18 months in prison. Peter O'Halloran (34), originally from Dunmore, Co Galway, had to sell his house and move his wife and four children into a local authority house in Ballinasloe when his plant-hire business suffered due to his drink and gambling addictions.
Galway District Court was told yesterday that O'Halloran was approached by criminal types and he agreed to use his own cheque books. He knew there was no money in his accounts to buy top-of-the-range furniture, roofing materials and electrical goods from 17 businesses in Galway and Mayo between November 2000 and January 2001.
Det Brendan Moran said O'Halloran sold the goods, totalling €39, 360, on for a third of the original price. He was drinking heavily and gambling at the time and his own business had closed down. He was forced to sell his home. He refused to name the people involved claiming they had threatened him and his wife.
Judge John Garavan said he had great sympathy for O'Halloran's wife but this sort of crime could not be tolerated and society had to be protected. He imposed sentences totalling 18 months on all charges and granted leave to appeal.