Ireland Father and son sentenced over fake Rolex watch con
John O'Regan (37) and his father Michael O'Regan (58), both from Kerry, sold a man a legitimate Rolex watch for €5,200 in 2020. In December 2020 they called to his home in Donoughmore, Co Cork, gave him a fake Rolex in place of the real one, and took a further €7,250 in cash. After a Garda investigation was launched, the men repaid the money and the victim got the real watch back. Both men pleaded guilty to one count of inducing the male victim to buy a fake Rolex watch, and at Cork Circuit Criminal Court in February 2024 John O'Regan was jailed for two years while Michael O'Regan received a 16-month suspended sentence for playing a lesser role.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced20 Feb
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Father and son John O'Regan (37) and Michael O'Regan (58), from Kerry, deceived a man into buying a fake Rolex watch.
- The victim had bought a legitimate Rolex watch from the men for €5,200 in 2020 after seeing an advertisement on Done Deal.
- The men gave the victim a new fake Rolex watch and took back the real one.
- Where
- The men called to the victim's home in Donoughmore, Co Cork.
- When
- In December 2020 the men approached the victim and said they had sourced a superior Rolex watch for him.
- Other details
- The victim also paid an additional €7,250 in cash.
- The fake watch came with fake certificates of authenticity.
- Investigation
- After a Garda investigation was launched, the men repaid the money owed and the victim received the real watch back.
- Both men fully co-operated with the Garda investigation.
- Charges
- The men pleaded guilty to one count of inducing the male victim to buy a fake Rolex watch.
- In court
- The case was heard at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
- Sentence
- John O'Regan was jailed for two years.
- Michael O'Regan was given a 16-month suspended sentence because he played a lesser role.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whatA father and son from Kerry swindled a man out of thousands of euro for a fake Rolex watch. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim bought a legitimate Rolex watch from the men for €5,200 in 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe men gave the victim a new fake Rolex watch and took back the real one. (irishtimes.com)
- whatThe victim also paid an additional €7,250 in cash. (irishtimes.com)
- whereThe men called to the victim's home in Donoughmore, Co Cork, in December 2020. (irishtimes.com)
- whenIn December 2020 the pair approached the victim and said they had sourced a superior Rolex watch. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationAfter a Garda investigation was launched, the men repaid the money owed and the victim received the real watch back. (irishtimes.com)
- investigationBoth men fully co-operated with the Garda investigation. (irishtimes.com)
- chargeThe men pleaded guilty to one count of inducing the male victim to buy a fake Rolex watch. (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard at Cork Circuit Criminal Court. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceJohn O'Regan was jailed for two years. (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceMichael O'Regan was given a 16-month suspended sentence because he played a lesser role. (irishtimes.com)
- otherThe watch came with fake certificates of authenticity. (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 20 Feb2024‘Shake it and wait a few days’: Father and son carried out one long Rolex watch con, court told
Sentencing hearing at Cork Circuit Criminal Court; the men pleaded guilty and were jailed or given a suspended sentence. No existing case in the list matches this incident.
convicted, John O'Regan, 37, male, named, irish (judged from name)John O'Reganconvicted, Michael O'Regan, 58, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael O'Reganvictim, male