Operator of camper van business jailed for two years for theft from customers

High Court reporters

The former operator of a camper van business who stole thousands of euro from customers “by robbing Peter to pay Paul” to prop up his failing company has been sentenced to two years in prison.

Darragh McGinn (64) of Oaklawn, Newcastle, Co Wicklow pleaded guilty at a sitting Wicklow Circuit Criminal Court to five separate counts of theft on dates between September 2011 and June 2019.

The offences by a man, who one victim branded as “a predator of vulnerable people,” involved the theft of sums ranging from €1,500 to €27,000 and totalling €53,500.

Detective Sergeant Donal O’Sullivan gave evidence that the total loss suffered by customers of the accused which was uncovered by a Garda investigation, amounted to €111,500.

Judge Patrick Quinn noted that McGinn’s offending had resulted in honest people fighting among themselves about the ownership of vehicles, as he had also deprived some purchasers of related documents to establish ownership of the camper vans.

McGinn operated a camper van business, ECC Leisure Limited, which was originally based in Inch, Gorey, Co Wexford, but later moved to Beech Road, Arklow, Co Wicklow.

Det Sgt O’Sullivan said the theft arose after the accused failed to pay customers who had consigned their camper vans to him to sell.

He told counsel for the DPP, James Kelly BL, that McGinn had “fobbed off” several customers when they attempted to contact him about the sale of their vehicle.

The court heard that McGinn had threatened one aggrieved customer who had started handing out leaflets outside his business premises which were warning clients about using his services.

Det Sgt O’Sullivan informed the court that the accused had been disqualified in December 2018 from acting as a director of any company for a five-year period because of his role as a director in another company involved with camper vans.

McGinn was also prosecuted and fined €800 in 2014 for the unauthorised installation of gas equipment in a camper van.

Defence counsel, Garnet Orange SC, told the court that the accused’s business was affected by the economic crash around 2008.

“He was not the only person who made bad business decisions trying to prop up a business that should have been allowed to fold,” said Mr Orange.

Under cross-examination, Det Sgt O’Sullivan said he was told that McGinn was in complete control of the company’s finances.

Mr Orange acknowledged that the defendant had engaged in “reckless business practice by robbing Peter to pay Paul and fobbing customers off with excuses.”

He told Judge Quinn that McGinn had left the business in 2019 and had been diagnosed in recent times with colon cancer.

The court heard that McGinn had brought €10,000 to court, which he had borrowed from his brother as compensation.

Mr Orange stressed that the accused had not been living a luxurious lifestyle and was now living on social welfare.

However, Det Sgt O’Sullivan said he believed that McGinn was still operating a camper van repair business online.

The court heard a probation report had assessed McGinn at being a moderate risk of reoffending.

Sentencing McGinn to concurrent prison sentences of three years for each of the theft offences, Judge Quinn suspended the final 12 months on condition that McGinn keep the peace on his release.

Judge Quinn directed that the compensation offered by McGinn should be distributed proportionately among his victims.