A 40-year-old former building company managing director who paid three Polish men to burgle his home so that he could claim the insurance money, has received a four-year suspended jail sentence.
Tony McCarthy, of Glashaboy, Bweeng in Co Cork appeared before Cork Circuit Criminal court charged with knowingly making a false report that his home had been burgled and his jeep stolen on 21 March 2009.
The court was told that on that date McCarthy rang the gardaí claiming his €57,000 jeep had been stolen and electrical goods and jewellery worth over €101,000 taken.
But on investigation, Mallow Gardaí became suspicious and discovered that McCarthy had contracted three Polish men to rob his home for a fee of €2,500.
The court heard that McCarthy had run a successful building company which is now in liquidation.
His counsel said this 'reckless escapade' arose out of the reality of his financial difficulties.
Handing down a suspended four-year prison sentence, Judge Patrick Moran said his crime was a most serious matter but he accepted that McCarthy had pleaded guilty, had no previous convictions, and had the care of two children, one with special needs.
