Courts / Dublin / Report

Manager who stole cosmetics worth €700k from employer will not face extra jail time

Date
2018-06-28
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

Joseph Walshe, a 50‑year‑old former general manager of Nevinar Cosmetics Ltd, was found guilty of ten counts of theft for stealing Clarins cosmetics worth over €700,000 retail from his employer between January 2010 and December 2011. He sold the goods to a UK wholesaler who believed he acted on behalf of Nevinar, receiving €204,122.38, while the loss to Nevinar was €181,582.00. A jury convicted him after a 12‑day trial and Judge Pauline Code sentenced him to two‑and‑a‑half years' imprisonment, suspending the final 12 months on the condition that he repay €181,000 within one year. The Director of Public Prosecutions appealed, arguing the sentence was unduly lenient, but the Court of Appeal dismissed the appeal, finding no error in the sentencing judge's approach. The case was described as a serious, pre‑meditated fraud carried out over more than two years. Joseph Walshe pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Manager who stole cosmetics worth €700k from employer will not face extra jail time. Charges or matters: 10 counts of theft over a two year period from January 2010 to December 2011; stealing over €100k from her employer over a seven month period. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty

When:

Why: Counsel for the DPP, Anne Rowland BL, had submitted that the sentencing judge erred in failing to give appropriate weight to the aggravating factors which included the "pre-meditated elaborate fraud" perpetrated by Walshe on his employer, the abuse of his position of trust and that there was no evidence of motive other than "sheer greed". CNI source report

Case subjects

Joseph Walshe

Defendant

Charges: 10 counts of theft over a two year period from January 2010 to December 2011; stealing over €100k from her employer over a seven month period (Proven)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Found guilty

Outcome: Found guilty; Walshe was found guilty by a jury following a 12-day trial and sentenced to two-and-a-half years imprisonment with the final 12 months suspended by Judge Pauline Code on June 15, 2017. The Director of Public Prosecutions unsuccessfully sought a review of Walshe's sentence on grounds that it is "unduly lenient".

Places mentioned

Residence
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
  • Court of Appeal

Topics

Fraud Stage Appeal Theft

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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