Court archive

Court reports mentioning Ballinakill, Laois

2019-06-25 · Dublin

Prison sentence upheld for man who stole from widow's pension to gamble

In a case heard at the Court of Appeal, William Butler, aged 52, was found guilty of stealing €19,380 from a widow's pension over a three‑month period between November 2013 and January 2014. Butler admitted to obtaining the victim's banking details and withdrawing the money from the Bank of Ireland, Ballyfermot branch, to gamble. He had pleaded guilty at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court and was sentenced to three years' imprisonment, with the final 12 months suspended, by Judge Karen O'Connor on 13 December 2018. The Court of Appeal upheld the sentence. Butler had made no restitution to the victim, who had discovered the withdrawals and had contacted him. The court noted Butler's previous good character and lack of prior convictions, but emphasized the seriousness of the dishonesty and the vulnerability of the victim. No error was found in the original sentencing, and the appeal was dismissed.

2018-12-13 · Dublin

Man gambled away €19k he stole from "vulnerable" widow

In a case heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, William Butler, aged 52, was sentenced to three years' custody for stealing €19,380 from the pension fund of a widow, Kathleen Carroll, who had let him stay at her home. Butler admitted taking the money over three months between November 2013 and January 2014, using her banking details to withdraw the funds from the Bank of Ireland. He had no prior convictions. Judge Karen O'Connor described Carroll's husband as having died months earlier and noted that Carroll was a vulnerable person who was preyed upon by Butler's regular withdrawals. Butler was given a full admission of guilt, pleaded guilty, and was ordered to undergo treatment programmes for gambling and alcohol if required. The judge suspended the final 12 months of the sentence and commended Carroll for her dignified conduct in court. The sentence was imposed with consideration of Butler's personal difficulties and the impact on his family and reputation.