Courts / Dublin / Report

Former security worker avoids jail for theft of Croke Park season tickets

Date
2015-02-24

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

A former deputy head of security at Croke Park has received a fully suspended sentence for the theft of premium season ticket booklets. John Gibson, aged 45, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing seven booklets containing 33 tickets each from the stadium between January and March 2014. The booklets, valued at €9,313, were taken while Gibson worked at the Hogan Stand security desk for Brinks Allied. The court heard the tickets could not be sold individually and therefore held no resale value, with Gibson making no financial gain. He subsequently distributed the booklets among family members and associates. Judge Martin Nolan imposed an 18-month prison sentence suspended in full, noting Gibson's considerable remorse and acceptance that his loss of employment constituted sufficient punishment. The judge described him as a decent man who had made a serious mistake. Gibson, of Rush, County Dublin, had no previous convictions.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Former security worker avoids jail for theft of Croke Park season tickets. Charges or matters: theft of the booklets from Croke Park on dates between January and March 2014. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

March 2014 Hearing Or Sentence
March 24, 2014 Incident
2015-02-24 Publication

Why: He also gave two booklets to his ex-partner because he said he wanted to give her something to allow her to bring the children on holidays. CNI source report

Case subjects

John Gibson

Defendant

Charges: theft of the booklets from Croke Park on dates between January and March 2014 (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Martin Nolan sentenced Gibson to 18 months in prison which he suspended in full. He said he believed that Gibson had already suffered through his loss of employment and accepted he had shown considerable remorse for the offence. "He is a decent man who made a serious mistake on the day in question," said Judge Nolan, adding that it was "painfully obvious" that he didn't deserve a jail sentence.