Rathkeale men face additional charges of theft and fraud

TWO men awaiting trail on charges of thief and deception were before a District Court sitting in Bantry facing yet additional charges of theft and fraud and of money laundering and terrorist financing.

Judge James McNulty heard that Gardaí had arrested Thomas O’Driscoll with at 3, Boherbuoi in Rathkeale, Co Limerick, and Patrick O’Driscoll of 4 Wolfburgess East, also in Rathkeale at the court on Thursday morning, April 25^th.

These new charges relate to a date in November 2018.

Both men were recently before a court sitting in Bandon to answer charges that, on November 21^st, last, at Carnawee, Goleen, Co Cork, they dishonestly deceived a woman into signing one cheque worth €3,000 made payable to another woman, and then to sign another cheque worth €3,500 and payable to Thomas O’Driscoll. In setting bail on that occasion, Judge McNulty warned both men to stay out of West Cork.

However, Det Garda Martin Bohane told the court that Thomas O’Driscoll made no reply when he was charged under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act as well as the Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Act. Patrick O’Driscoll replied ‘no comment’ when he was charged under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act.

Under instructions from the DPP, Sgt Paul Kelly told the court that both men were to face trail on indictment or on a signed plea.

Releasing them both on continuing bail, Judge McNulty refused a request from solicitor Margaret Collins, acting for Thomas O’Driscoll, that the bail conditions already set by the court be relaxed so that the accused did not have to sign on at his local garda station once a week, as he had a child who need regular medical appointments.

Judge McNulty said that ‘signing on at a local garda station once a week was not an unduly large burden on any citizen.’

The judge adjourned the case and released both men on continuing bail to appear in Bantry again May 23^rd next.