Saturday 31 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 20483Fraud · Co. Clare

Fraud duo posing as TV licence inspectors in Ennis

On a Thursday night, a man and a woman called at homes on the Gort Road in Ennis, Co Clare, claiming to be TV licence inspectors, and elderly residents were targeted. The woman said there had been an escalation of licence inspections in light of the RTE pay controversy, and the man said he worked with TD Cathal Crowe. The sources do not give the suspects' names, ages or nationality. TD Cathal Crowe reported the incident to Ennis Garda Station on the Friday, and in the latest report, dated 1 July 2023, he asked anyone with CCTV footage to come forward. No arrests or charges have been reported.

  1. Reported1 Jul
    2 reports
  2. Arrested
  3. Charged
  4. In court
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • A man and a woman called at homes claiming to be TV licence inspectors.
  • The woman said there had been an escalation of licence inspections in light of the RTE pay controversy involving Ryan Tubridy.
  • The man said he worked with TD Cathal Crowe and was helping identify homes.
Where
The homes visited were on the Gort Road in Ennis, Co Clare.
When
  • The visits took place on a Thursday night.
  • Sources differ on how the alert came: Clare Echo says Ennis residents alerted Crowe late the previous night, while Galway Beo says Crowe alerted locals.
Cause
Elderly residents were deliberately targeted, and the pair were apparently using the RTE pay scandal to do so.
Other details
  • The pair gained access to some homes and stayed chatting on the doorsteps of several elderly residents.
  • Crowe said the use of his name was part of the scam and that it had nothing to do with him or his office.
  • Crowe was unsure whether any households in Ennis had handed over money.
Investigation
  • Clare Echo says Crowe reported the incident to Ennis Garda Station on the Friday, while Galway Beo says he would report the matter to gardaí.
  • Crowe asked anyone with CCTV footage of the incident to come forward.
Charges
No arrests or charges have been reported.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatA man and a woman visited homes claiming to be a TV licence inspector. (clareecho.ie)
  • whatA fraud duo pretended to be TV licence inspectors. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • whatThe woman claimed to be a TV licence inspector and said there was an escalation of licence inspections. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • whereThe homes visited were on the Gort Road in Ennis. (clareecho.ie)
  • whereThe pair called to homes on the Gort Road in Ennis. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • whenThe incident happened on a Thursday night. (clareecho.ie)
  • whenThe TD was alerted late the previous night by Ennis residents. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • causeElderly residents were deliberately targeted as part of the scam. (clareecho.ie)
  • causeThe pair were apparently using the RTE pay scandal to target elderly residents. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • investigationCrowe reported the incident to Ennis Garda Station on the Friday. (clareecho.ie)
  • investigationThe TD said he would report the matter to gardaí. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • investigationThe TD asked anyone with CCTV footage to come forward. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • otherThe pair claimed there had been an escalation of licence inspections. (clareecho.ie)
  • otherThe man said he worked with Cathal Crowe TD and was assisting in identifying homes. (clareecho.ie)
  • otherThe pair managed to gain access to some homes. (clareecho.ie)
  • otherCrowe was unsure whether any households in Ennis had handed over money. (clareecho.ie)
  • otherCrowe said the scam had nothing to do with him or his office. (clareecho.ie)
  • otherThe man said he worked with the TD and was helping identify homes. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • otherThe couple stayed chatting on the doorsteps of a number of elderly residents. (galwaybeo.ie)
  • otherThe TD said the use of his name was part of the scam and that it had nothing to do with him or his office. (galwaybeo.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 1 Jul2023
    Reportedgalwaybeo.ie, first report
    'Fraud duo' using RTE Ryan Tubridy scandal to 'scam' people in small Irish town

    First report of the incident. The TD says he will report it to gardaí and asks anyone with CCTV footage to come forward.

    suspect, malesuspect, female
  2. 1 Jul2023
    Reportedclareecho.ie, first report
    Crowe reports TV licence scam to Gardaí - Clare Echo

    Report of a TV licence scam in Ennis in which a man and woman claimed to be TV licence inspectors and used Cathal Crowe's name. The article gives no arrests, suspect names or court details.

    suspect, malesuspect, femalevictim