Judge slags off Liverpool while Corkman stands trial for ticket fraud

Cork Circuit Criminal Court Judge Seán Ó Donnabháin is probably more of an Arsenal man.

A Corkman stole almost €2,500 from Liverpool fans hoping to secure tickets to Premier League matches, and has been appearing in court on theft charges. Ian O'Sullivan pleaded guilty to stealing money from punters through the Done Deal website, on the promise that he would provide tickets to see Brendan Rodgers' side in action. He kept €2,450 without providing any match tickets to 15 people, but the judge at the trial could not believe people wanted to pay to see the Reds in action at all. Judge Ó Donnabháin asked: “People actually pay to see Liverpool?” Detective Garda Neil Walsh replied: “Apparently so.” The judge added: “There are innocents in every department of the world.” Ouch. O'Sullivan's legal representatives claimed that he suffered from a gambling addiction, and the judge delayed sentencing until early February while warning the accused that he was not optimistic on the issue of sentencing.