Australia charges five Irishmen over alleged building scam

Five Irishmen have been charged in Western Australia over alleged fraudulent roof repairs.

The men are part of a group of 26 Irish people, including 19 women and children, who were detained in tourist park in the Perth suburb of Hazelmere last month.

Items seized in the police operation included trucks, building equipment, two Rolex watches and AU$120,000 (€81,625) in cash.

Two of the group were subsequently released, but the remaining 24 had their visas cancelled and were detained, pending deportation procedures.

“Five Irish nationals who were detained on Friday, January 23rd 2015 will remain in immigration detention pending their court outcomes,” a spokesman for Michaelia Cash, Assistant Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, told The Irish Times.

Half of the group has already left Australia. "I can confirm 12 people have been voluntarily returned to Ireland, " the spokesman said.

Of those charged over alleged fraud, a 42-year-old has been charged with two counts each of gain benefit by fraud and stealing, and one count of unlawful possession.

A 19-year-old has been charged with three counts each of stealing, trespass and criminal damage and two counts each of gain benefit by fraud, attempted gain benefit by fraud and one count of unlawful possession.

An 18-year-old has been charged with two counts each of gain benefit by fraud and stealing and one count each of criminal damage and unlawful possession.

A 23-year-old has been charged with gain benefit by fraud, unlawful possession and criminal damage.

They are due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on February 12th.

A 33-year-old has been charged with unlawful possession and is due to appear in Perth Magistrates Court on February 11th.

Allegations against the Irish men include one by an elderly man who said he had paid AU$17,000 (€11,563) to them to have his home and driveway painted. They allegedly painted the driveway but did not return to finish the job.

Another senior citizen paid AU$12,000 (€8,162) to have a roof repaired but said the task was not completed. Some homeowners said the men had damaged their roofs.

In several incidents, the men allegedly went to a bank with the elderly customers and waited while they withdrew the cash to pay them.