A MAN HAS indicated to a court he will plead guilty to a series of charges of fraudulently selling tickets for an Ed Sheeran concert at a number of hotels in Limerick city.
Pat Hayes (32), with addresses at Elton Court, Meelick, Co Clare and at Foch Avenue, Ontario, Toronto, Canada, faces 11 charges.
Hayes’ solicitor Tom Kiely said his client also intends pleading guilty to a charge of attempting to apply for a passport last month – in breach of previous bail conditions.
The Canadian national was granted bail when he first appeared before Limerick District Court in January. Hayes’ bail was revoked in February, however today it was heard he had since been granted High Court bail.
It is alleged Hayes, who was employed by Viagogo at the time, printed off the concert tickets and advertised them for sale online on dates between 1 April and 29 July 2015.
On one date, it’s alleged he was observed on CCTV at a Limerick city hotel selling the tickets to a number of women.
The customers, who were subsequently refused access to the concerts, lost a combined total of more than €2,000.
Surrendering his passport
Despite a garda objection, Hayes was granted bail subject to certain conditions, including the surrendering of his passport.
An independent surety was requested and Hayes’ wife, who lives in Canada, was approved in this capacity.
Hayes was charged with a further two fraud offences in February in relation to selling concert tickets.
One of the offences is alleged to have happened at a hotel in Limerick city on 3 April 2015, while the other is alleged to have happened at a location in Nenagh, Co Tipperary.
He is also charged under the provisions of the Passport Act with providing “false and misleading information” to officials at the passport office in Cork on 2 February last – namely that he had lost his passport when in fact it had been surrendered to gardaí.
At the time gardaí objected to bail, expressing fears Hayes would not appear in court if he was released. Today Hayes’ solicitor said the accused intends pleading guilty to all charges.
DPP
Kiely complained to the court that his client’s liberty to travel to see his wife in Canada is “restricted” because the case is being delayed as the state has not yet completed its case file.
“He has made full and frank admissions so why is it two months later and we still have no [DPP directions]?” Kiely asked.
Sergeant Donal Cronin from Henry Street garda station said a “comprehensive file” was not yet ready to send to the Director of Public Prosecutions.
“It doesn’t mean you stop at page four of the file because someone indicates a plea. The [DPP] will still consider all of the file,” Cronin added.
Hayes was remanded on continuing bail, and the case was adjourned until 27 April.
Comments are closed as the case is before the courts.
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