A former Cycling Ireland official, Garry Nugent, has been handed a suspended sentence for attempting to deceive the Department of Transport. The 51-year-old, from Coalisland, Co. Tyrone, pleaded guilty to two charges of attempting to deceive the department between March and June 2020. Cycling Ireland, advised of potential grants totaling €175,000, intended to apply for tandem bicycles for the Paralympic Games. However, the organization faced a dilemma: they needed three quotes to support their application, but only had two genuine ones. In a desperate attempt to secure the grant, Nugent, under immense pressure, fabricated two false quotes. The detective revealed that Cycling Ireland was under a tight deadline, with a narrow window for manufacturing the bicycles, and the pandemic added to the urgency. Despite the lack of financial gain, the incident caused reputational damage and the loss of a sponsor. The judge, Judge Orla Crowe, acknowledged the exceptional circumstances and the immediate admission of guilt, offering a suspended sentence of 18 months with strict conditions, including good behavior for three years.
