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Courts Service worker jailed for embezzling €35,000 in fines paid by public
Summary
Jonathan Gilmore, 42, of Rowman House, Mespil Road, was sentenced to one year in prison at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for embezzling over €35,000 in fines. The defendant, a former Court Service administrative officer, entered signed guilty pleas to 50 charges of theft dating from September 2010 to August 2012. He had stolen cash paid by the public to offset fines, using subsequent payments to cover previous debts until the scheme collapsed. Judge Martin Nolan imposed the custodial sentence, stating that Gilmore had betrayed a position of trust by handling State monies. The judge noted that while he had sympathy for Gilmore, who had cooperated fully and repaid all stolen funds, the breach of trust necessitated incarceration. Gilmore, who had no previous convictions and was dismissed from his role, had significant gambling debts and had spent €440,000 on bets between 2008 and 2013. The case had been adjourned overnight following evidence heard on Wednesday. Defense counsel highlighted Gilmore's cooperation and financial ruin, while the prosecution detailed how complaints about unpaid fines led to his arrest and full admissions in April 2013.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Courts Service worker jailed for embezzling €35,000 in fines paid by public. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- September 6, 2010 Incident
- August 20, 2012 Incident
- January 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- April 10, 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2008 and 2013 Other
- 2015-02-05 Publication
Why: "He could not continue with this Peter to pay Paul because there were far too many Pauls," counsel said. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He said he was imposing a custodial sentence because Gilmore had betrayed a position of trust where he was taking monies on behalf of the State. "It gives me no great pleasure at all to do this because I have a degree of sympathy for him.; Judge Martin Nolan had adjourned the case overnight having heard evidence on Wednesday.
Defendant
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Judge Martin Nolan had adjourned the case overnight having heard evidence on Wednesday.
Places mentioned
- Rowman House
- Mespil Road
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- to come to Bridewell Garda Station
Topics
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