Man given suspended sentence for deceiving school into paying for inferior flooring

By Sonya McLean

A man who deceived the board of a primary school into paying for an inferior floor, causing a loss of just over €15,000, has been given a suspended sentence.

Stewart Goodwin (46) of Johnswood Park, Ashbourne, Co Meath came forward to Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on signed pleas of guilty from the District Court on a charge of making a gain or causing loss by deception at Old Borough National School, Church Road, in Swords on March 10, 2023.

Detective Garda Karen Duffy told Tessa White BL prosecuting, that the chairperson of the board of the school contacted gardaí in May 2022 and said they had arranged for Goodwin to repair a floor that had been damaged in the school from a flood the previous summer.

A deposit was paid and the school agreed on the type of flooring to be laid.

In March 2022, Goodwin began the work but the wood that he had ordered to replace the old floor was not as high quality as that which had been paid for and agreed on.

The school cancelled the contract and requested a refund. The following June, Goodwin paid back €9,510 but there was still over €15,240 outstanding.

Det Gda Duffy said Goodwin was arrested in January 2023 and expressed remorse and made admissions. He said he was stupid with money. He said the wood the school wanted was not available and he decided to buy cheaper wood.

He claimed he was intending to do further work to the floor once it was laid to improve the quality of it.

There was no victim impact statement prepared for the case.

Det Gda Duffy agreed with Paddy Jackson BL, defending, that gardaí accepted that Goodwin’s remorse was sincere and he had “effectively buried his head in the sand”.

He only recently told his family about the case and they have indicated that they are happy to assist him in reimbursing the school.

It was accepted that Goodwin had removed all the old flooring and had put down a different floor than had been agreed. It was of a poorer quality, it was thinner and had not been treated.

Counsel said his client had intended to pay another person to sand and varnish the floor after he had completed the work.

Judge Martin Nolan said the school had entered into a contract with Goodwin and the material he was intending to use was substandard.

“I think he is remorseful. He is a hard worker and doesn’t live a high life. It is highly unlikely that he will re-offend and it would be unjust to send him to prison,” Judge Nolan said.

He imposed a 21-month sentence which he suspended in full on strict conditions, including that Goodwin refund the school the €15,240 he owed them within a year.