Suspended sentence for man who pleaded guilty to handling stolen property

A father of two who helped transport diesel that was bought in a north Louth filling station, using a ‘lost’ fuel card, has been given a 16 month suspended sentence at Dundalk Circuit Court.

Michael Bucko from Church View, Chapel Lane, Carrickmacross pleaded guilty to three counts of handling stolen property, in relation to the diesel, at Ballymascanlon Service Station on three dates in Septmber 2023.

Judge Dara Hayes was told the card was used between late August and into September that year and a significant number of diesel transactions were made by persons who would arrive, fill up drums and pay for it with the card.

The defendant was present for 10 of those transactions over seven days and remained in his van while they were filled.

Two of his co-accused were present for these and many more transactions and he was linked to the offending as the van was registered in his name.

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The total value of the diesel taken when he was there, was almost €5,290 and the offences he pleaded guilty to had a value of nearly €3,275.

The court heard the defendant, who was assisted by a Slovakian interpreter during the hearing, worked as a delivery driver and all of his co-accused had previously been finalised and received suspended sentences of various lengths.

The Defence barrister stressed his client, who had €1,000 in court, had no knowledge of what was going on, and had played a much lesser role than the others and has not come to adverse attention since the offending.

However, the investigating garda said it would have become apparently shortly afterwards what was going on.

Judge Hayes noted it was accepted the defendant was less culpable and the court had been told he made a mistake and trusted people he should not have.

Judge Hayes imposed a 16 month sentence which he suspended in full on the defendant entering a bond to be of good behaviour during that period.