A car dealer who used false registration plates and VAT numbers to defraud banks of more than £60,000 has been given a three-year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Clive Bolger (28), of Staples town, Co Kildare, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud in 1994, with three other counts taken into consideration.
Det Sgt Dennis O'Sullivan told prosecuting counsel, Mr Paul Coffey, that Bolger had conspired with Mr Patrick Gallagher and Mr Patrick Shovlin, who were the owners of Blakes restaurant in Santry, Dublin.
Bolger used his business to receive £52,500 in car loans on behalf of the two men, who were facing cash difficulties at the time.
On one occasion in November 1994, Bolger did "a solo run", receiving £12,000 from AIB Leasing which was used to pay off business debts.
The scheme was uncovered because the registration numbers chosen by Bolger were higher than the number of cars sold in Dublin that year.
Det Sgt O'Sullivan said Mr Gallagher and Mr Shovlin had since repaid the money, which had always been their intention. He said that he and other gardai had pleaded with Bolger to stay out of crime but they now believed he was mixing with "very serious criminals".
Judge Kieran O'Connor told Bolger that he was at a crossroads and he could either be an honest car dealer like his father or slip into a life of crime that would inevitably lead to long prison sentences.
The judge added that he would impose a three-year suspended sentence, provided Bolger entered into a bond to keep the peace for three years, repaid £12,000 to AIB Leasing and agreed to do 100 hours' community service.