Thursday 5 November 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. 26443Theft (deception) · Co. Cork · 7 Aug 2020

Man sentenced for deceiving Apple into lending three phones in Cork

Patrick Sheedy, a 53-year-old man, pretended to be working with Virgin Media television to obtain three iPhones from Apple Computers in Hollyhill, Cork, on 7 August 2020. The phones, valued at €2,869, were sold to fund his gambling addiction and were not returned when Apple requested them in September 2020. He appeared before Cork District Court where he admitted the theft. Judge Olann Kelleher sentenced him to ten months in prison, noting his 94 previous convictions including 37 for deception.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced13 Jun
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Sheedy pretended to be working with Virgin Media television to obtain three phones from Apple Computers.
  • He stole three phones valued at €2,869.
Where
The phones were taken from Apple Computers in Hollyhill, Cork.
When
The phones were taken on 7 August 2020.
Cause
The phones were sold to fund a gambling addiction.
Investigation
Apple requested the return of the phones in September 2020 and arranged for collection.
In court
He appeared before Cork District Court and admitted the theft.
Sentence
Judge Olann Kelleher imposed a ten-month jail term.
Other details
  • Sheedy has 94 previous convictions including 37 for deception, 21 for theft and six for obtaining services by deception.
  • He is currently serving a sentence at Portlaoise Prison.
  • He was unemployed since 2015 and had a severe gambling addiction, gambling daily.
12 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatSheedy pretended to be working with Virgin Media television to get the phones (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatHe stole three phones valued at €2,869 from Apple Computers (limerickpost.ie)
  • whatSheedy failed to return the three phones (limerickpost.ie)
  • whereThe phones were taken from Apple Computers in Hollyhill, Cork (limerickpost.ie)
  • whenApple requested the return of the phones in September 2020 (limerickpost.ie)
  • causeThe phones were sold to fund a gambling addiction (limerickpost.ie)
  • courtHe appeared before Cork District Court (limerickpost.ie)
  • sentenceJudge Kelleher imposed a ten month jail term (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherSheedy has 94 previous convictions including 37 for deception, 21 for theft and six for obtaining services by deception (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherHe is currently serving a sentence at Portlaoise Prison (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherHe was unemployed since 2015 (limerickpost.ie)
  • otherHe has a severe gambling addiction and was gambling daily (limerickpost.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 13 Jun2022
    Sentencedlimerickpost.ie, first report
    Limerick gambling addict jailed for Apple iPhones con

    Details the specific Apple iPhone theft, the ten-month sentence at Cork District Court, his 94 previous convictions, and his severe gambling addiction.

    suspect, Patrick Sheedy, 53, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Sheedy