Wicklow man given criminal conviction and ordered to pay €2,345 for illegally undertaking restricted electrical works

A Wicklow man was convicted earlier this week after he was found guilty of carrying out designated electrical works without being a registered electrical contractor (REC) with Safe Electric.

The Commission for Regulation of Utilities (CRU), Ireland’s independent energy, energy safety and water regulator, secured a prosecution against Dara Griffiths of Inspired Homes, Meath Place, Bray, for carrying out the work without the required certificates.

The case was heard on 10 December 2018 and presiding Judge Lucey heard evidence from Mr. Seán Ward, Electrical Investigative Officer with the CRU that the works carried out did not conform with the relevant standards required.

The electrical works were undertaken in a house in Monkstown, Co Dublin in March 2017. 16 breaches of the national wiring rules were found resulting in the potential risk of a house fire. Judge Lucey fined Mr Griffiths €500 for the offence of illegally undertaking designated electrical works and awarded costs of €1,845 plus VAT to the CRU.

It is illegal for an individual or company to carry out Restricted Electrical Works or to portray themselves as registered, unless they are a REC with Safe Electric. The penalties for non-compliance include a fine of up to €15,000 and/or imprisonment for up to three years.