Courts / Cavan / Report

Bookkeeper who stole €14k from creche avoids jail

Summary

A bookkeeper from Virginia, County Cavan, has avoided imprisonment after admitting theft from a Dublin creche. Elizabeth Ingram (61) pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing €14,000 from Ballyfermot Resource Centre during 2011 and 2012. Judge Melanie Greally imposed 240 hours of community service in lieu of a one-year prison sentence. The court heard Ingram had worked in bookkeeping at the resource centre for eight years before the thefts were uncovered during a mandatory Government funding audit. She admitted taking approximately €100 from every €1,000 in creche payments over several weeks, plus €800 from the centre's restaurant. Ingram repaid the full amount by bank draft following her admission. Judge Greally acknowledged the serious breach of trust but noted Ingram was under financial pressure at the time and described the offence as uncharacteristic of an otherwise law-abiding woman who raised four children as a single parent.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Bookkeeper who stole €14k from creche avoids jail. Charges or matters: stealing from Ballyfermot Resource Centre in Dublin on dates in 2011 and 2012. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

• June 15th 2012 Other
• July 3rd 2012 Other
• 2011 and 2012 Other
• 2017-12-19 Publication

Why: She said she took the money in order to pay her bills. CNI source report

Case subjects

Places mentioned

Topics

Stage Sentence Theft

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Read the original CNI report