Farmer pleads guilty to Mayo €13k sheep purchase cheque fraud

A Roscommon man who issued bounced cheques worth over €13,000 for a flock of sheep has pleaded guilty to theft at Castlebar District Court, with the case adjourned to allow him make a payment to the injured party.

Earl Lawless, Castlesampson, Béal na Mulla, Athlone, Co. Roscommon, appeared before Judge Ciarán Liddy, pleading guilty to a Section 4 theft.

Sergeant Fiona Farrell told the court that on April 25, 2025, Michael McWalter of Ballinafad had advertised sheep for sale on Done Deal.

Lawless, accompanied by his son, attended and purchased 65 sheep at €207 each, totalling €13,455.

On that date Lawless issued two cheques payable to the sellers – one valued at €11,799 and the other for €1,656.

Later correspondence from AIB confirmed the cheques had been returned unpaid.

Solicitor Martina Moran told the court her client was 52 years of age with two adult children.

She said Lawless had believed funds were being lodged to his account to cover the cheques but he had encountered problems.

The McWalters had since been reimbursed in full.

Ms. Moran said her client was apologetic the matter had reached court and had no previous convictions regarding theft.

She noted that a cheque had been forwarded to Garda Detective Leo Heaney ahead of the first court date, that negotiations had taken place and correspondence had been exchanged over a considerable period of time, and her client accepted that the McWalters had been put to significant inconvenience.

Judge Liddy said he would allow Lawless to offer a token gesture to the McWalters in recognition of that inconvenience.

He adjourned the matter to September 16 for mention, directing that if €1,000 was paid to the injured party, a fine of €1,000 would apply. If not paid, a fine of €3,000 would be imposed, with three months to pay.

* Funded by the Courts Reporting Scheme.