Thursday 29 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. 9856Fraud · Co. Offaly

Man jailed for 15 months over €500 fraud on elderly Edenderry woman

In June 2025, a man posing as a painter booked by Edenderry woman Frances Byrne, who was 97 according to one article and 98 according to the case facts, took €500 from her at her home on Windsor Terrace, Co Offaly, after she withdrew €600 from her bank. Gardaí linked a van seen on CCTV to Martin Wall (23), of Glasnarget, Rathdrum, Co Wicklow, and arrested him at Dublin Airport; a second man who was with him has not been prosecuted and remains at large. Wall pleaded guilty to inducing Byrne to pay the money by false representation, and a charge of theft of four rings was dropped. On April 15, 2026, Judge Ronan Munro at Tullamore Circuit Court jailed Wall for 15 months, with a further 15 months suspended for four years on condition he keeps the peace and is of good behaviour.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced30 Apr
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Martin Wall pleaded guilty to inducing Frances Byrne to pay him €500 in advance by false representation.
  • Two men led Byrne to believe they were the painters she had booked and gained access to her house.
  • Byrne withdrew €600 from the bank and paid the men €500.
Where
The offence took place at Byrne's home on Windsor Terrace in Edenderry, Co Offaly.
When
A call about the incident was received on June 26, 2025.
Other details
  • Byrne was 97 according to one article and 98 according to the case facts, and she was due to turn 99 in October.
  • Wall had 75 previous convictions, and the judge described the offence as a despicable crime.
  • Byrne was in hospital and a convalescent home after a fall within days of the incident, and Wall's counsel said he had brought €1,000 to court to be handed over to her.
Investigation
  • Gardaí linked a van seen on CCTV to Wall through its registration number.
  • Wall was arrested at Dublin Airport.
Charges
Wall was initially charged with theft of four rings, but the prosecution dropped that charge.
In court
Sentencing was deferred to Wednesday, April 15, and took place at Tullamore Circuit Court.
Sentence
  • The judge set the headline sentence at three years and reduced it to two and a half years after mitigation.
  • The judge suspended 15 months of the sentence and backdated it to August 8, 2025, when Wall went into custody.
20 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatMartin Wall was jailed for 15 months. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatWall pleaded guilty to inducing Frances Byrne to pay him €500 in advance by false representation. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatThe two men led Byrne to believe they were the painters she had booked and gained access to her house. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whatByrne withdrew €600 from the bank and paid the men €500. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whereThe offence took place at Frances Byrne's home on Windsor Terrace in Edenderry. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenA call about the incident was received on June 26 last year. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • whenSentencing was deferred to Wednesday, April 15. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationGardaí linked the van seen on CCTV to Wall through its registration number. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • investigationWall was arrested at Dublin Airport. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • chargeWall was initially charged with theft of four rings, but the prosecution dropped that charge. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtWall pleaded guilty to the offence before the sentencing hearing at Tullamore Circuit Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • courtSentencing took place at Tullamore Circuit Court. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge set the headline sentence at three years and reduced it to two and a half years after mitigation. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge suspended 15 months of the sentence and backdated it to August 8 of last year, when Wall went into custody. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • sentenceThe final 15 months was suspended for four years on condition that Wall keeps the peace and is of good behaviour. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherWall had 75 previous convictions. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherWall's companion was not prosecuted and remains at large. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherByrne was in hospital and a convalescent home after a fall within days of the incident. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherThe judge described the offence as a despicable crime. (offalyexpress.ie)
  • otherWall's counsel said he had brought €1,000 to court to be handed over to the victim. (offalyexpress.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 30 Apr2026
    Sentencedoffalyexpress.ie, first report
    Offaly woman (97) gave €500 to 'painter' guilty of 'despicable crime'

    Reports the sentencing at Tullamore Circuit Court, including the custodial term, the suspended portions, the Garda investigation and the victim impact statement.

    convicted, Martin Wall, 23, male, named, irish (judged from name)Martin Wallvictim, Frances Byrne, 98, female, irish (judged from name)Frances Byrnesuspect, male