Man pleads guilty to theft of boats and fraud

A Co Leitrim businessman pleaded guilty yesterday to the larceny of three Shannon motor cruisers and to fraudulently obtaining another boat and a number of cheques and bank drafts.

The man, who pleaded guilty to eight charges of fraud and larceny to the amount of almost €500,000, is to be sentenced next February.

Judge Donagh McDonagh adjourned sentencing after hearing that Shane Matthews (41), Attyrory, Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim, was pleading guilty to the larceny of three motor cruisers and to fraudulently obtaining another boat and a number of cheques and bank drafts.

A special sitting of Carrick on Shannon Circuit Court was told that Matthews, who committed the offences over a two-year period from 1998 to 2000, has been declared bankrupt but his family is anxious to raise funds in order to recompense a number of people who have lost money as a result of these crimes.

John O'Kelly SC, for Matthews, told the court that in the region of €150,000 was still unaccounted for. Matthews had been facing 26 charges but when the court sat yesterday Mr O'Kelly informed the judge that his client was pleading guilty to a number of sample charges and that a jury would not be required.

Counsel told the judge that the trial could have taken three to four weeks and that approximately 100 witnesses were due to be called. The judge said that the accused had pleaded guilty on the last day "before the sword of Damocles fell" but he said he still got credit for the guilty plea.

Matthews admitted stealing a motor cruiser worth €54,598 belonging to a John Ledwith between August and September 1998; a cabin cruiser worth €69,835 belonging to Nigel and Lea Banks between June and September 2000; and a cruiser worth €76,184 belonging to Patrick Flynn, between August and October 2000.

He also pleaded guilty to fraudulently obtaining a bank draft for €25,394 and a Yellow Bird motor cruiser worth more than €20,000, the property of Ann Kelly, in September 1998 by pretending that he or the company Sealion Services owned or were entitled to sell a cruiser.

Matthews also admitted two counts of fraudulently obtaining cheques, each for €92,182, from the Anglo Irish Bank Corporation by pretending that motor cruisers existed and were to be supplied to two individuals.

He admitted fraudulently obtaining a cheque for €51,792 in October 2000 and of fraudulently obtaining a cheque for €12,697 in June 2000 by pretending on each occasion that he or Sealion Services possessed or were entitled to sell a cruiser.

All the offences were committed at Rosebank Marine. Mr Kelly told the judge that his client had always been a hard-working man and had no previous convictions.

He had got his life back together again and had a new business, but because he had been declared bankrupt, he did not have control over his finances.