Gardaí 'still gathering complaints' of fraudulent fire extinguisher sales
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Gardaí are still receiving reports of alleged fraud in connection with the sale of fire safety equipment a number of weeks after the issue was first highlighted.
The investigation into the sales is being led by gardaí in Skibbereen Garda Station in West Cork.
People from Co Cork, Co Kerry, and other areas of Munster have reported being targeted by a man from Cork.
Concerns have also been raised by people in parts of the Midlands, South Leinster, and South Connacht who believe they were also targeted.
A Garda source said no arrests have been made in the investigation, but one source said a “lot of reports” have been made to gardaí. “We are still gathering complaints,” he said.
It is understood that sums of between €200 and €2,500 have been lost by individuals who purchased equipment they believed was legitimate.
The reports to gardaí relate to the sale of equipment such as fire extinguishers and the servicing of such equipment.
Allegations include that payment was made for products which were not supplied, while some extinguishers taken away for servicing were not returned to their owners. Others are alleged to have been replaced with inadequate equipment.
Irish Standard 291 governs the area of fire extinguishers, including the installation, inspection, and servicing of them.
Extinguishers must be test discharged and refilled every three years under the standards.
In such circumstances, the standards outline that loan units are to be provided to the client to ensure no loss of cover while units are removed, until they are returned again.
The suspect in the investigation is a man living in West Cork.
It is understood that people who used card payments in their dealings with the man are liaising with their banks in an effort to have their money returned to them.
Several people also attempted to get in touch with the man they were dealing with in relation to the fire safety equipment to get their money back, but failed.
A Garda spokesman said that enquiries are continuing.