Teenager carrying out an ‘elaborate fraud’ is remanded for a probation report
A TEENAGER who was carrying out “an elaborate fraud” has been remanded for a probation report by Tallaght Court, reports Brendan Grehan.
The 16-year-old, who has an address in Tallaght, pleaded not guilty to possession of a charity collection card for the intention that it be used for an offence under Section 6 of the theft and fraud offences act at a location in Rathfarnham on January 22, 2015.
An Employee of the Charities Regulatory Authority told the court that the boxing club in question was not a registered charity and that the reference number on the collection card was false.
An Employee of the Revenue Commissioners told the court that a sporting body could not be a charity.
Garda Kevin Drennan told Judge John Coughlan that on January 22 last, he had been on patrol in Rathfarnham at 9pm when he got a call to go to a break-in at a nearby estate.
He said they drove around the estate and then went to a nearby busy street because that is where they thought someone who was trying to fit into a crowd would go.
He said he saw three young males walking along the street. On seeing the gardai one of the males walked into a shop and came out again. Garda Drennan said he found the teenager, who was one of the males, in possession of a collection card for the boxing club and €45 in cash.
He said the teenager was later arrested and charged. Garda Drennan said another male was also found in possession of collection card for the boxing club.
The teenager told the court that he got the money from his father. He said his father does deliveries for a local takeaway.
He said he found the collection card in an estate where his girlfriend lives.
Garda Drennan put it to the teenager that it must be a coincidence that the other male also had a collection card for the same boxing club. The teenager said he found the card on the street. Finding the teenager guilty, Judge Coughlan said he was satisfied the teenager “had carried out an elaborate fraud”.
Judge Coughlan remanded the teenager for a month for a probation report and for sentencing.