Fermanagh builder Paul McAloon jailed for £180k fraud

Paul McAloon wore a hat over his face as he entered the court

A builder who defrauded more than 20 customers out of £180,000 has been jailed for a year.

Paul McAloon, 38, also ran up debts with four building companies which he never paid.

McAloon, who pleaded guilty to the charges earlier this year, committed the offences between April 2020 and March 2022.

He will also serve a year on licence following his release.

A number of his victims were in Dungannon Crown court today for his sentencing hearing.

One of his victims Violet Storey, from Lisbellaw, County Tyrone, paid him £9,500 for a sensory room for her son that was never completed.

"I was a staff nurse in the middle of Covid, I worked hard for that money and for him just to pocket that - that's what makes me so mad."

'Excuse after excuse'

The court heard how McAloon, of Eshnadarragh Road near Rosslea in County Fermanagh, took deposits of up to 50% from customers for work that was never completed.

That including a garden office, a sunroom extension, a timber chalet, an eco shed and a log cabin.

He also failed to complete a number of house extensions.

The judge said McAloon had "offered no credible explanation for taking on an unsustainable workload".

He said the complainants all reported that McAloon appeared in a "charming, confident manner" and asked for significant deposits to be paid before making "excuse after excuse".

The court heard how McAloon had got himself into debt with a number of suppliers and had used his victims' money to maintain funding of his business.

The judge said he was satisfied it was not McAloon's "initial intention" to act fraudulently.

The judge added that the builder had "obviously reached a point in dealings with victims where you dishonestly misrepresented your intentions to do the work".

McAloon had appeared before the court with a clear record and had continued to work, said the judge.

He added that a medical report he had received described how McAloon had been "suffering poor mental health for several years".

'Customers left distressed'

In his sentencing remarks, he told McAloon he was effectively taking the money "as theft" and that he had fobbed off people with "assurances that were false".

The court heard one of the projects McAloon failed to complete was a sensory room for a teenager with autism.

The judge said "one of the most significant aspects" of McAloon's fraud was that so many people had been affected.

He also referenced the "financial loss, inconvenience, stress and distress" which he said was obvious from multiple victim impact statements.

"Ordinary people worked hard for home improvements paid for and not received," said the judge.

"Very significant amounts of money were paid out to you and that money is not being repaid."

The judge said he was of the view the "custody threshold has been passed".

He added that given timely pleas and assistance offered by the defendant the appropriate sentence was one of two years with the second year to be served on licence.