By Anton McNulty

A Mayo farmer was issued with two cheques totalling €13,455 which later bounced after selling 65 sheep to a Roscommon farmer. 

Earl Lawless (52) of Castlesampson, Bealnamulla, Athlone, Co. Roscommon appeared before Castlebar District Court where he pleaded guilty to theft after writing two cheques to buy sheep which later bounced.

The court heard that on April 25, 2025, farmer Michael McWalter from Belcarra outside Castlebar advertised sheep for sale on an online website. 

Court presenter, Sgt. Fiona Farrell explained that Lawless and his son agreed to buy 65 of them at €207 per sheep.

Lawless offered to pay by cheque and wrote two AIB cheques - one for €11,799 and the other for €1,656 - payable to Shirley McWalter, daughter of Michael McWalter.

On April 29, 2025, the McWalters received notification from AIB that the cheques were being returned as there was not enough money in the account and the incident was reported to gardaí who prepared a file for the Director pf Public Prosecutions (DPP).

Court

Martina Moran, solicitor for Earl Lawless explained that her client believed there was enough money in the account to cover the cheques but there was an issue with the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) and as a result he did not receive his payment.

She said that he was very apologetic to everyone involved and has since fully reimbursed Michael McWalter and asked Judge Ciarán Liddy to be as lenient as possible.

She added that her client had hoped to reimburse Michael McWalter sooner but it was not possible to do that.

Judge Liddy commented that Michael McWalter had been deeply inconvenienced and the solicitor agreed saying that Earl Lawless fully accepted that this was the case.

Judge Liddy stated that if Lawless paid a further €1,000 to the injured party as a token gesture in appreciation of the inconvenience he caused, he would strike out the charge.

The matter was adjourned until September 16 for the payment to be made.