Laois woman failed to send goods she took payment for
Portlaoise District Court
A PORTLAOISE woman who received money for goods she had advertised on online market sites but failed to send off the items to the purchasers, appeared at last week’s siting of Portlaoise District Court.
Louise Ward (29) from Clonad, Portlaoise, pleaded guilty to three counts of deception.
The first item, which was not disclosed in court, was sold for €130. The buyer reported to gardaí in Leopardstown, Dublin, on 1 December 2021 that she had not received what she had paid for.
The second of the items, a hairdryer was advertised for sale for €380. The court heard when the purchaser of this item failed to get it, she reported it to gardaí in Dingle, Cork, on 26 February 2022.
The third item, a Dyson Airwrap was purchased from Ms Ward for €131 but the buyer never received it. They went to gardaí in Roundwood, Wicklow, and reported the matter.
Garda Sergeant JJ Kirby said that gardaí tracked down Ms Ward through her social media account name and her bank account IBAN number.
He said the defendant had 14 previous convictions.
Noting the first of the incident took place almost four years ago, Judge Susan Fay asked: “Has she any money with her today,” to which Ms Ward’s solicitor Josephine Fitzpatrick replied: “The answer is no.” “Has she any money at all with her,” asked the judge?
“Her mother’s gone to see if she can get €100. She’s asking for one month to allow her time to pay back all the money,” said Ms Fitzgerald.
Going by my calculations,” said Judge Fay, “the total owed is €641, which if I adjourn the case to 15 December, it will mean she would have to pay €53.41 a week.” However, the judge adjourned the case to 20 October to see if Ms Ward will keep to the teams of the repayment and by that date should have €213.64.
She said if that money was there, she would adjourn the case on that date to 15 December and instruct the probation and welfare services to carry out an assessment on the defendant to see if she is suitable to carry out a community service order.
Judge Fay said: “She now has a choice what kind of Christmas her children are going to have. I will revisit my position in October, but I want her to have the money.”
