Man who refused to pay for ‘romantic night’ at B&B found with fake money

By Martina Nee

A romantic night at a city centre B&B took a turn for the worse when the Romeo refused to pay for a room and was then found to be in possession of counterfeit money.

Farid Fawzi who, at 24-years-old has racked up 79 previous convictions, appeared before Galway District Court last Monday where he pleaded guilty to making off without paying for services, valued at €35, at Copper Beech Guest House, College Road, and to having in his possession three counterfeit €50 notes. A charge for obstruction of Garda Derek Mullen was struck out.

The court heard that at approximately 2.45am on March 15, 2009, gardai entered a guesthouse where a person had refused to pay for a room. When Fawzi, who has an address at Coneybeg, Rathpeacon, Mallow Road, Cork, was searched at the garda station counterfeit notes were found on him. Fawzi claimed that he had got them from a named person but this person could not be verified.

Defence solicitor Sarah O’Dowd conceded that her client has an “appalling” number of previous convictions for someone of his age. She said that at the B&B Fawzi made a full admission and had co-operated from the outset. Ms O’Dowd explained that some time before the incident Fawzi had broken his ankle and couldn’t work. He met an individual who offered him the €50 notes. “He didn’t intend to use them, they were found together with his passport... he was scared to use them anywhere,” said Ms O’Dowd.

Ms O’Dowd further explained that Fawzi had been in Galway with a group of friends and that after leaving a night club he met a young girl and was hanging around with her. He had already spent his taxi money and decided to go back with her but was only in the room for one to two hours. She added that Fawzi, who now works as a carpenter, “never intended to stay there” and that he had in fact had a hotel booking elsewhere.

“He has €50 on him today. A perfectly valid note,” said Ms Dowd.

For possession of the counterfeit money Judge John Lindsay convicted the defendant and fined him €300 with two months to pay. He also ordered Fawzi to pay €50 compensation for the “romantic night” at the B&B.

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