BREAKING: Tipperary man caught trying to pass dud notes in Letterkenny gets hefty fine

A young Tipperary man who tried to pass a fake €20 note in a Letterkenny bar was found with €200 in counterfeit cash.

Robbie Creamer appeared before Monday's sitting of Letterkenny District Court after being caught with the dud notes over the weekend.

Creamer, a 22-year-old of Lisheen, Nenagh in Co Tipperary, was in Letterkenny for the Donegal International Rally when, his solictor said, he became “stretched” for cash, prompting him to pass one of the fake notes, which he later claimed to have “found” at a campsite.

Sergeant Jim Collins said that gardai received a call from staff at Sister Saras who said that a young male attempted to pass a forged €20 note.

Creamer was arrested and when conveyed to Letterkenny Garda Station he handed over a total of €200 in fake notes.

Judge Éiteáin Cunningham accepted jurisdiction in the case.

Sergeant Collins told the court that Creamer was on a campsite and had no money when he was offered this sum and “thought it was wise”.

Creamer has no previous convictions and was said to be “fully apologetic and contrite”.

The court heard that Creamer's parents travelled from Co Tipperary for Monday morning's court appearance.

Ms Donna Crampsie, solicitor for Creamer, said her client is a 22-year-old electrical engineer who was in Donegal for the purpose of attending the Donegal International Rally.

Ms Crampsie said it was her instructions that Creamer found the sum at the campsite and foolishly, having consumed some level of alcohol, decided to spent it in a premises in town.

“He accepts that it was a foolish thing to do,” Ms Crampsie said.

Ms Crampsie said her client was “stretched” when it came to discharging costs over the weekend.

Addressing Judge Cunningham himself, Creamer admitted that he “was aware” that he was carrying fake cash.

Judge Cunningham said the charge was “very serious” to have presented cash as legitimate while knowing it was fake.

“Such a foolish, foolish situation to find yourself in,” Judge Cunningham told the accused. “I'm sure that your parents are disappointed that you have embarked on that type of behaviour.”

Judge Cunningham convicted Creamer under section 35 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001.

Creamer was fined €500 and given five months to pay.