A COURT case involving a Berrings man who owes €10,000 to three people after duping them into giving him money has been described as a ‘DJ Carey situation’ as the accused has no funds to pay them back.
Patrick Barrett (33) of Lisladeen, Berrings appeared at Bandon District Court last Thursday, having been remanded in custody from Macroom District Court the previous day.
He had been directed by Judge Joanne Carroll to produce €1,400 in court as compensation for the injured parties but did not produce any money at the hearing.
Mr Barrett previously pleaded guilty at Macroom District Court to three charges of deception dating back to 2021 and 2022.
In one instance, on May 21st 2021, he obtained €6,000 from one injured party by deception contrary to Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
On February 6th 2022 he received €1,400 for a selling a Citroen Berlingo van in Macroom which he did not own, and on October 7th 2022 he obtained €2,600 in Leap by deception using a cheque.
Solicitor Éamonn Fleming, acting as agent for Sean Cahill, said Mr Barrett is ‘deceiving at an alarming rate’ and has even deceived his wife.
‘This is a DJ Carey situation,’ Mr Fleming said. ‘He has no funds, no money and has been tapping people for money and spinning stories that people believe.’
Judge Carroll said she needed compensation in court and that Mr Barrett had told the court that he would have it.
She pointed out that he has been earning £800 per week since March 2024 and that three bench warrants had been issued for him.
‘You told me that by October you would have €2,000 for compensation but you didn’t show up in court and now it’s November,’ said Judge Carroll.
Mr Barrett told the court that he had postal orders, which were now out of date and he needed to get this rectified in order to produce compensation in court.
However, Judge Carroll said he would not be granted bail until some compensation was paid.
‘Let him reflect on matters over the week,’ said the judge who remanded him in custody to appear at Clonakilty District Court on Friday November 28th.
