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Bookmaker 'walking into sunset' with criminal proceeds, judge says

Date
2021-10-15
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin City
County
Dublin

Summary

Judge Pauline Codd, presiding over the sentencing of Marcin Konar, a 43‑year‑old former Lidl store manager, highlighted the duty of bookmakers to scrutinise accounts that receive large sums of stolen money. Konar had stolen €26,600 from Lidl between February and May 2018, using the cash to fund an online gambling addiction. He admitted the theft, confessed to the gardaí, and expressed remorse, claiming he intended to repay the money. Codd noted that the stolen funds had been transferred to an online gambling account, effectively "walking into the sunset" for the bookmaker. She imposed a suspended two‑year imprisonment, suspended in its entirety for four years, and required Konar to hand over €3,700, repay a minimum of €500 monthly to Lidl, and comply with strict conditions. The judge urged the gardaí to investigate the bookmaker's handling of the proceeds, as no prior inquiry had been made. Marcin Konar pleaded guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Bookmaker 'walking into sunset' with criminal proceeds, judge says. Charges or matters: the theft of €26,600 at Lidl, Thomas Street, Dublin City centre, on dates between February 1, 2018 and May 11, 2018. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Why: She said he felt he was borrowing the money in order to gamble it and seems to have thought at some point he would pay it back, but this never materialised. CNI source report

Case subjects

Marcin Konar

Defendant

Charges: the theft of €26,600 at Lidl, Thomas Street, Dublin City centre, on dates between February 1, 2018 and May 11, 2018 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Marcin Konar (43), a father of two on whom she imposed a suspended sentence after he admitting stealing the cash from his employer Lidl to feed a gambling addiction. Judge Codd sentenced Konar to two years imprisonment but suspended the sentence in its entirety for four years on strict conditions, including that he hand over a lump sum of €3,700 which he had in court and to repay a minimum of €500 a month to Lidl.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Residence
  • Mill Park
Address Area
  • Thomas Street
Secondary Mention

Topics

Stage Sentence Theft

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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