Thursday, January 16, 2014
Style
Fashion for ordinary boys
»p15
Revenge of the cowboy builder
A BUILDER has been spared prison after ‘entirely devastating’ the home of a client who refused to pay for renovation work that had been carried out. Believe Osiuhwu, 48, who is also known as Aso Rock, was hired to carry out building work but only received partial payment because the client was not happy with the quality of the job. In response, he broke into the house and destroyed the work he had carried out as well as causing extensive damage to the rest of the property. The total damage was estimated at €18,000. Judge Patrick McCartan examined photographs of the house and noted it was ‘entirely devastated’, every room was ‘wrecked’ and ‘lumps’ had been taken out of furniture, flooring and coving. Judge McCartan noted Osiuhwu’s reasons for carrying out the damage but said his actions ‘were not a way to settle a dispute and that fact seems to have dawned on the accused very late in the day’. The judge noted that the builder had €1,000 in court as part compensation and that this was a significant sum for him given his dire financial state. He imposed a 15-month sen-
by conoR gallagheR
tence, suspended on condition Osiuhwu pays over another €4,000 to the victim within two years. Osiuhwu of Briarswood Lawn, Mulhuddart, had pleaded not guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to burglary at Nutgrove Avenue, Rathfarnham, on October 30, 2011. He later changed his plea to guilty. Garda David Sheehan told the court Osiuhwu was hired to carry out renovations in return for €8,000. After completion the occupant said he was unhappy with its quality and only paid €3,000. Osiuhwu tried in vain to obtain the balance and a short time later broke into the house, destroying the work he had done. He has four previous convictions arising out of a road traffic incident. The court heard the occupant has paid to have some of the damage repaired. Defence counsel Vincent Heneghan said his client receives only occasional building work and in debt to the Revenue for €1,000. He added Osiuhwu’s actions were irrational and born out of frustration at the situation.
Every room of house ‘wrecked’
All we want is fare play Taxi driver Greg O’Brien takes part in a demonstration outside the Dáil yesterday to highlight concerns about proposals to reform to the industry, currently being considered by the Government PICTURE: PA
Keep Dublin tidy – Please recycle this Metro Herald when you are finished with it