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'Total betrayal' of woman who stole from nuns to fund 'extravagant spending'
Summary
Avril O'Brien, 51, was convicted of stealing €80,000 from the Loreto playgroup in Tallaght, Dublin, between October 2013 and March 2016. The playgroup, which helps single mothers return to work, suffered financial hardship when O'Brien, then office manager, transferred money to her personal accounts under fictitious names such as 'wages'. Gardaí discovered the theft in February 2017 after O'Brien falsely claimed she had permission from the director, Sister Teresa McCullagh. O'Brien's diaries revealed extravagant spending on home renovations, a mobile home in Wexford and family holidays to Florida. She pleaded guilty to 11 counts of theft, and the court agreed that €80,000 had been stolen, though €119,000 was later deposited into her accounts. On 3 November 2021, Judge Martin Nolan sentenced her to three years' imprisonment, suspending the final 18 months on strict conditions, including a €12,000 payment to the playgroup within a month.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Total betrayal' of woman who stole from nuns to fund 'extravagant spending'. Charges or matters: 11 sample counts of stealing money from the playgroup on dates between October 2013 and March 2016; the 11 counts towards the start of the trial. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- October 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- February 2017 Other
- 2021-11-03 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: 11 sample counts of stealing money from the playgroup on dates between October 2013 and March 2016; the 11 counts towards the start of the trial (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Nolan sentenced O'Brien to three years imprisonment but suspended the final 18 months of the sentence on strict conditions, including that the €12,000 be transmitted to the organisation within a month. He pointed to the fact that O'Brien was visibly shaking in the dock throughout the sentence hearing.
Places mentioned
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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