Teen charged with duping One Direction fans

A teenager has been charged with duping four people into lodging money into his bank account for One Directions concert tickets which they never received, using the Donedeal website.

Garda Jason Kelly gave evidence at Galway District Court of arresting Dean McKeown (19), of 14 Fana Glas, Ballybane, last Monday morning before the court began and charging him.

Garda Kelly said it would be alleged the injured parties lodged money into McKeown’s bank account for One Direction tickets and allegedly never received the tickets.

McKeown is charged with inducing a man to lodge €320 into his bank account at Bank of Ireland, Mervue Industrial Estate on December 12 last year for four One Direction tickets.

He is charged with stealing the €320 from the man on the same date.

He is charged with inducing a woman to lodge €420 into his bank account for four One Direction tickets, which she never received, on December 16 last, and with handling the €320, knowing it was stolen on the same date.

McKeown is also charged with inducing another woman to lodge €325 into his Mervue bank account between December 14 and 16, for four One Direction tickets, which she never received.

He is charged with handling the €325, belonging to the woman, between those dates, knowing the money was stolen from her.

McKeown is further charged with inducing a third woman to lodge €480 into his bank account for six One Direction tickets on December 15 last, which she never received and with handling the money knowing it was stolen.

Inspector Mick Dwyer said the DPP had directed the charges could be dealt with at District Court level.

Judge Mary Fahy remanded McKeown on continuing bail to appear before the court again on July 13.