Travelling Irish conman Martin McDonagh jailed for multiple fraud charges
An Irish conman who rorted hundreds of thousands of dollars from multiple Melbourne victims in a bogus home renovation racket could be out of jail in less than three months.
North West
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An Irish conman who rorted more than $360,000 from multiple victims through a bogus home renovation racket could be out of jail in less than three months.
Martin McDonagh, 28, was sentenced in the County Court today to a minimum 16 months’ jail after pleading guilty to eight counts of obtaining property by deception.
However, the shonky tradesman, busted with a stockpile of expensive luxury goods, could walk free in just 84 days after spending 396 days in custody.
McDonagh ripped off $366,150 from eight victims in Hawthorn, Ashburton, Newport, Hampton East, Burwood East, South Melbourne and Noble Park between September 2018 and April 2019.
McDonough was part of a criminal gang which committed “Irish roofing scams”, the court heard.
The gang lured unsuspecting victims with pamphlets advertising home improvement services at cut-price rates.
In reality, McDonagh and others operated unregistered businesses which hired unqualified tradesmen to perform shoddy building work.
Many victims handed over big money for shoddy and unfinished work.
McDonagh strung his victims along with false claims he needed more money to complete work.
One victim lost $280,000 to McDonagh after the fraudster dropped a pamphlet for bogus company “Kody’s Home Improvements” in the man’s letterbox.
McDonagh duped his victim into believing his Burwood East home was structurally unsafe and in need of urgent repair.
The victim coughed up the dough through multiple payments between November 2018 and March 2019.
A building inspector engaged by the victim found McDonagh had “bluffed his way into working on the house” as nothing needed to be done.
The inspector also determined the only work actually needed were repairs to damage caused by McDonagh’s crew.
Some soil had been turned over to make it “appear that the works have been completed”, the inspector said.
The victim – who reported McDonagh to police in March 2019 – said he was “back to square one”.
McDonagh was arrested at his Hadfield home in May last year.
Police also arrested another man at a Heidelberg West property at the same time.
McDonagh was tracked down via bank accounts, CCTV and phone records.
Investigators seized a Rolex watch and multiple Louis Vuitton clothing accessories, purses, handbags, boots, shoes and bags from McDonagh’s home.
Police also seized a stack of other high-end products including multiple Gucci, Prada, Versace, Cartier, Chanel, Valentino, Dior, Christian Luboutin, Guiseppe Zanotti and Saint Laurent items.
McDonagh was linked to his other victims. after he was arrested.
Several of McDonagh’s UK and Irish associates were also identified but none of these men have been charged in Australia, the court heard.
Judge James Parrish said McDonagh will be deported to Ireland after his release.
McDonagh was jailed for a maximum two years.
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