Convicted con artist to be sentenced in Waterford this week
O'Brien is expected to appear in Waterford for sentencing.
A convicted con artist is expected to be sentenced this Wednesday for dishonestly defrauding a man out of thousands of euro.
Catherine O'Brien, of An Grianan, Ballinroad, Dungarvan, dishonestly induced John Blake into paying her €20,000 to purchase a horse, €1,100 for insurance and €984 to transport the horse from France to Ireland.
The 48-year-old was due to be sentenced for her crimes last November after being found guilty on three counts of deception after a trial in July 2025.
Prosecuting barrister Conor O'Doherty said of the defendant: "Ms O'Brien is a devious and determined liar preying on a vulnerable and naive man who was caught into a web of deceit."
In November 2025, her legal counsel presented a medical certificate excusing her attendance.
In December 2025, her new defence counsel Ronan O'Carroll BL, under the instruction of solicitor Ciaran Mulholland, appealed to the court that she be sentenced before Christmas. The Circuit Court was in the middle of conducting another trial at the time of this request.
Judge Eugene O'Kelly acceded to the request but when the date came around, O'Brien's counsel presented another medical certificate.
Judge O'Kelly said in December: "[O'Brien] has had many bench warrants and she has absented herself numerous times."
