Courts / Dublin / Report

Woman avoids jail for stealing €30k from public sector payroll firm

Date
2021-11-15
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

Caroline Tiernan Kanza, 43, of Myrtle House, Baldoyle, was found guilty of forging invoices and stealing €30,519 from the National Shared Services Office while employed in a position of trust. She pleaded guilty to five counts of forgery and theft in two periods of offending, March–July 2018 and June–November 2019. The court noted her self‑defeating personality disorder, financial pressure, debt, mortgage arrears, and alleged domestic violence. She had repaid the full amount and cooperated fully with probation services, showing low risk of reoffending and attending counselling. Judge Elma Sheahan imposed a headline sentence of four years but, considering mitigating factors, set a two‑year sentence suspended in full on the condition she pays €1,000 within six months and another €1,000 to charity in the following six months. The case was heard in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 15 November 2021.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Woman avoids jail for stealing €30k from public sector payroll firm. Charges or matters: five counts each of forgery and theft from NSSO, Lower Mount Street, in two tranches of offending between March and July 2018 and between June and November 2019. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Tiernan Kanza

Defendant

Charges: five counts each of forgery and theft from NSSO, Lower Mount Street, in two tranches of offending between March and July 2018 and between June and November 2019 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Taking into account the mitigating factors, Judge Sheahan imposed a sentence of two years. She noted the tremendous pressure Tiernan Kanza had been under as well as the welfare of her children and suspended the sentence in full on condition she pay over €1,000 within 6 months with a further €1,000 in the following six months to charity.

Places mentioned

Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Facility
  • Myrtle House
Residence

Topics

Stage Sentence Theft Violent Crime

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