Cornel and Lina Rostas, from Blackpool, Cork, pleaded guilty and were convicted at Cork District Court last month under section 15 of the Energy (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1995 on two charges: unlawful interference with a gas meter and the dishonest use of gas.

The court heard that Gas Networks Ireland had carried out an investigation at the property in August 2023 and found the lock on the gas meter had been removed illegally and the gas meter had been unlawfully tampered, preventing consumption from being recorded on the meter.

Judge Marian O’Leary said the couple’s actions were “outrageous” and could have had “dire consequences”.

Mr Rostas was sentenced to four months’ imprisonment with the final three months suspended and was issued with fines of €600, while Mrs Rostas was given a four-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, and fines of €400.

Owen Wilson, networks safety manager at Gas Networks Ireland, said: “This is the first conviction that we have secured for meter tampering that has resulted in a term of imprisonment for the defendant and we hope that this verdict will act as a strong deterrent, sending out an important message to the public that meter tampering is a serious crime with potentially deadly consequences.

“Thankfully the gas theft was spotted before anything dangerous happened. This situation could have been a lot more serious if the gas meter interference caused a gas leak.

“While theft of gas is a very serious issue, far more serious is the risk to life that tampering with a gas meter poses to the perpetrator. and to people nearby. We are working hard to end unlawful interference with gas meters and the dangers associated with this activity.”