Courts / Dublin / Report
Man gambled away €19k he stole from "vulnerable" widow
Summary
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.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Man gambled away €19k he stole from "vulnerable" widow. Charges or matters: five sample charges of stealing money from Bank of Ireland, Ballyfermot, Dublin, on dates between November 2013 and January 2014. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- November 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- January 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2018-12-13 Publication
Case subjects
Convicted Person
Charges: five sample charges of stealing money from Bank of Ireland, Ballyfermot, Dublin, on dates between November 2013 and January 2014 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: A man has been jailed for two years for stealing over €19,000 from a widow who had let him stay at her home. Judge O'Connor suspended the final 12 months of the sentence for that period and ordered that he undergo treatment programmes for gambling and alcohol if required.
Places mentioned
- Ballinakill
- Ballinakill Road
- Abbeyleix
- Dublin
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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