A FORMER betting shop worker who is a compulsive gambler smashed a flat-screen TV in a bookies after he lost his dole money on virtual horse races.
Colm Fitzhenry (25) claimed he picked up a pencil holder and threw it in frustration because the workers in the bookies were laughing at him.
He claimed it was an accident that the pencil holder hit a 42-inch TV, causing €580 worth of damage. Judge James McDonnell adjourned the matter to a date in December to allow Fitzhenry save up the compensation.
The defendant, of Seskin View Road in Tallaght, admitted before Tallaght District Court to criminal damage.
The incident took place at Tom Flood Bookmakers, Firhouse Shopping Centre, shortly before noon on February 2 last.
Garda Sergeant Carmel Henry said Fitzhenry was in the bookmakers betting on virtual racing. He lost the money, and then picked up a pencil holder and threw it at a TV.
Defence solicitor Eddie O'Connor said Fitzhenry was a regular gambler in the bookmakers. He was in the shop that morning, and he lost all his dole money betting on virtual races.
He felt he was being laughed and sneered at by the workers in the bookies and in the heat of the moment he over-reacted and threw the pencil holder. Fitzhenry told the court he didn't mean to hit or damage the TV.
He said he was in a lot of debt due to his gambling addiction and his family has disowned him.
Fitzhenry said he was attending Gamblers Anonymous and had not placed a bet in five months.
Judge McDonnell said he would give Fitzhenry some time to pay for the damage he caused, and adjourned the matter to a date in December.
Another example of the fantasy that bookmakers are helping problem gamblers to sort themselves out
If you feel you have a problem with you’re gambling please approach our staff who wont have a clue what you’re talking about as they have not been briefed
As I said before you’re out of control with your gambling (i.e. Gorey) you can bet all day
You’re in control of your betting …you can have €1.33 @ 5/1 sir it’s a trading decision that wont be reversed.
Another example of the fantasy that bookmakers are helping problem gamblers to sort themselves out If you feel you have a problem with you’re gambling please approach our staff who wont have a clue what you’re talking about as they have not been
ever see the clips of lads playing the roulette on you tube?intresting viewing..they feed them for hours,then if they win over 50 pounds they are celebrating..a sort of forgetting of all they lost before..very sad
ever see the clips of lads playing the roulette on you tube?intresting viewing..they feed them for hours,then if they win over 50 pounds they are celebrating..a sort of forgetting of all they lost before..very sad
What are the rules with machines in Ireland? Was in Bruces in Kilkenny city the other day and noticed they had a poker machine. First time i've ever seen a machine in a betting shop here.
What are the rules with machines in Ireland? Was in Bruces in Kilkenny city the other day and noticed they had a poker machine. First time i've ever seen a machine in a betting shop here.
If you have a couple of hours to spare and it's a PDF form so it'll probably slow your p.c. so adviced to read it after you have finished betting for an hour or so
Regulating Gaming in Ireland
Report of the Casino Committee
http://bit.ly/naI04f
If you have a couple of hours to spare and it's a PDF form so it'll probably slow your p.c. so adviced to read it after you have finished betting for an hour or so Regulating Gaming in IrelandReport of the Casino Committee http://bit.ly/naI04f
Loved this story. This lad is an effing headcase. Id say if he hasnt had a bet in five months its because hes barred from every shop in the area or one of the boyfriends of the girls he was abusing grabbed a hold of him!!
Loved this story. This lad is an effing headcase.Id say if he hasnt had a bet in five months its because hes barred from every shop in the area or one of the boyfriendsof the girls he was abusing grabbed a hold of him!!
By Brendan Grehan Friday September 30 2011 A GAMBLING addict who defrauded nearly €6,000 from Paddy Power by getting gift vouchers from them and then betting the money has been jailed for 18 months.
Tallaght Court heard that Patrick Sheedy had won €5,600 in the bets he had placed with the vouchers but had lost the lot through further gambling.
Sheedy (42) pleaded guilty to obtaining by deception €700 worth of vouchers on June 15, 2010, €1,200 worth of vouchers on June 22, 2010, and €4,000 worth of vouchers on June 23, 2010, from Paddy Power PLC, Airton House, Airton Road, Tallaght.
Garda Sergeant Bernard Jones told Judge James McDonnell that Sheedy had contacted Paddy Power's marketing department and said that he needed vouchers for events he was running.
He said Paddy Power had told Sheedy that he would have to pay for them.
Sheedy contacted Paddy Power to say he had lodged the relevant amounts into their bank account and received the vouchers. Sgt Jones said Paddy Power never checked to see if the monies had been lodged.
Judge McDonnell said there must have been two losses, the initial loss with the vouchers and the secondary loss with the betting.
He added: "It seems to have been in the order of €11,000 to €12,000". Sgt Jones said the vouchers had no real face value so the loss was €5,600.
Sheedy, with an address at St Johns Square, Cathedral Place, Limerick, had 37 previous convictions, including a four-year sentence, suspended for 10 years from the Circuit Court on November 8, 2010, for two counts of theft and four counts of deception.
Judge McDonnell sentenced Sheedy to nine months' jail for the offence on June 15, nine months for the offence on June 22 and nine months consecutive on the other two sentences for the offence on June 23
By Brendan Grehan Friday September 30 2011A GAMBLING addict who defrauded nearly €6,000 from Paddy Power by getting gift vouchers from them and then betting the money has been jailed for 18 months.Tallaght Court heard that Patrick Sheedy had won