Two men received jail sentences, and another was given a suspended sentence for running an NCT scam following a Garda investigation after a sting operation carried out by an RTÉ Prime Time documentary in 2011.

At Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, Judge Gerard Griffin imposed sentences of three years with two-and-a-half years suspended on Stephen Rooney (37)  and Alan Richardson (28), both from The Paddocks Grove, Adamstown, Lucan, Co. Dublin.  He suspended all of a three-year term for Vincent Brunton, Priory Square, St Raphael’s Manor, Celbridge, Co Kildare who pleaded guilty to one charge of forgery, making a false NCT certificate on April 20, 2011. Judge Griffin said that he was on the bottom rung of the ladder in the scam.

The court heard previously that Richardson, who was working as an NCT inspector, was contacted by his neighbour, Rooney, and asked to pass two Toyota Carinas. Both vehicles had previously failed the test and were scheduled for a re-test.

The men were to get €100 between them for their role although no money was ever exchanged. Richardson then asked NCT tester Brunton to pass one of the vehicles as roadworthy.

A fourth man, Darren Meehan (40) of Delemere, Enfield, Co Meath, was approached to pass the second vehicle. He received a two-and-a-half year suspended sentence last month for his role after he pleaded guilty to producing a false NCT certificate.

Detective Garda Sean O’ Riordan told the court that Prime Time bought a 1996 Toyota Carina and 1993 Toyota Carina and had them examined by two independent mechanics who confirmed they should not pass the NCT.

In May 2011, the cars were sent in for inspection and failed. A re-test was booked and in the meantime the programme makers paid €100 to a contact so that the car would pass the re-test.

The faults identified in the first test were never rectified before the vehicles were presented again. Meehan and Brunton were the examiners on the re-test and passed the cars.

Rooney pleaded guilty to one charge of forgery of an NCT certificate and one charge of corruption in that he accepted or obtained €100 as an inducement or reward for securing an NCT certificate on 20 April, 2011. He has minor previous convictions dating back to 2000.

Richardson pleaded guilty to the same charge and a charge of corruption in that he accepted a gift of cash from Stephen Rooney as an inducement or reward for an NCT certificate.

Brunton pleaded guilty to one charge of forgery, making a false NCT certificate on April 20, 2011.

Judge Gerard Griffin said that the men’s actions set at nought the intention of legislation to improve road safety. He said the cars passed were evidently unroadworthy and unsafe to drive adding that this was a breach of trust and that the public was entitled to rely on the system to take unroadworthy cars off the road.