Ireland’s independent energy regulator, the Commission for Energy Regulation (CER), has secured a prosecution against Michael O’Connell of County Wicklow for illegally carrying out restricted electrical works and presenting himself as a registered electrical contractor.
The six-month custodial sentence included three months for carrying out the electrical work while unregistered and three months for portraying himself as registered.
The works comprised an attic conversion into a bedroom. During the CER’s investigation, it was established that the electrical works carried out by O’Connell were wholly unsafe and constituted a real danger to the occupants of the house, who included two adults and three young children.
At the time, O’Connell was not a registered electrical contractor with the recognised safety supervisory body and therefore committed an offence under the Electricity Regulation Act, 1999.
Judge Zaidan heard evidence from Sean Ward, electrical safety officer with the CER, that the works carried out created a serious safety hazard for the occupants and showed bad workmanship.
The CER’s commissioner for energy safety Dr Paul McGowan said: “The fact that the Court felt a custodial sentence was required reflects the seriousness of this case and the clear danger to human life it represented. This sends a clear message to anybody engaging an individual or company to carry out electrical work in a house that they must be suitably qualified and a registered electrical contractor.
“The CER is committed to using its resources to investigate and prosecute unregistered individuals who carry out restricted electrical works or portray themselves as registered electrical contractors. Registration is required to protect the safety of the public.”