Dublin mother who let ‘rogue tradesman’ install ‘miracle’ free gas meter spared jail

A DUBLIN mother has been spared jail for letting a rogue tradesman install a “miracle” meter that gave her home a “risky” free gas supply.

Sasha Patchell, 26, of Kilmartin Avenue, Tallaght, Dublin, also avoided a maximum of €15,000 in fines but was ordered to pay €1,000 after she was prosecuted by Gas Networks Ireland on Monday.

Prosecution solicitor Shane Reynolds told Judge John O’Leary that on March 23, an authorised officer carried out a check at her home address because a registered meter was supposed to have been installed in 2018.

However, the gas inspector discovered she was using a different meter, which was stolen from a nearby housing estate.

The mother of two pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to three charges under the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act for dishonestly using gas or causing it to be diverted, unlawful interference with a meter and failing to take all reasonable steps to ensure the illegal one was discontinued.

Asked about using the stolen meter, Mr Reynolds explained that “the purpose of it was to get free gas”.

The court heard the tampering caused an “immediate risk” to her home, neighbours and public safety due to the possibility of leakage. She had no prior convictions, and the judge noted that she was not a “competent gas plumber”.

Pleading for leniency, defence barrister Stephanie Lawless said her client was remorseful.

Counsel said that Patchell had been under financial strain at the time and that someone called at her home and offered to install an unregistered meter instead, and “it was not going to record anything”.

The court heard that the stolen meter gave her free gas, and the defence submitted that she was “not too aware” of what it was but should have been.

Ms Lawless asked the judge to take into account that her client, who is on social welfare, had children and gets a carer’s allowance for another family member.

The offences carry maximum sentences of €5,000 per offence and a possible six-month jail sentence.

Describing it as a “risky activity”, Judge O’Leary warned her about “people calling to your door ready to work miracles for you”. However, he added that the court had sympathy for her situation and that, until now, she had a perfect record.

He said that by getting social welfare, the State accepted that she “barely had enough for herself”.

Judge O’Leary recorded a conviction on one charge, imposed a €500 fine, ordered her to pay another €500 toward prosecution costs, and marked the remaining two counts taken into consideration.

Gas Networks Ireland owns, operates and maintains the Irish natural gas network connecting more than 700,000 homes and businesses.

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