Callum Kearney (23), of Ballincollig, Co Cork, has been sentenced to three years in prison, with 21 months suspended, for theft and attempted motor theft. He used forged bank transfer images to attempt to obtain three BMWs from car dealerships.
Kearney visited Ashford Motors in Rathnew, Co Wicklow, on November 14th, 2023, expressing interest in purchasing two BMWs valued at €89,950 and €54,950. He provided the dealer with his details and sent screenshots of purported bank transfers. However, the transactions were not genuine, and he did not receive the vehicles.
Six days later, Kearney visited CMC Car Sales in Mallow, Co Cork, to view a BMW priced at €28,950. He again sent a screenshot of a supposed pending payment, took the car for a test drive, and failed to return it. He fitted fake registration plates to the vehicle, which was later found in Mullingar.
During questioning, Kearney admitted to the offences and revealed he had arranged buyers for the vehicles. He also confessed to attempting to obtain the other two BMWs.
The court heard that Kearney has 41 prior convictions and has been diagnosed with ADHD and autism.
Judge Keenan Johnson noted Kearney’s “expensive taste” in cars and his ingenuity in committing the offences. The judge suspended part of the sentence for five years to encourage rehabilitation and ordered Kearney to attend psychotherapy after his release.
Source: Irish Times