Courts / Dublin / Report
No jail for former lobbyist who stole to pay private school fees
Summary
Sven Spollen Behrens, aged 54, a former lobbyist and director of the Small Firms' Association, pleaded guilty in Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two counts of stealing €10,250 each from the Dun Laoghaire Business Improvement District and the Sandyford Business Improvement District in 2017. He used the stolen money to pay private school fees and also diverted an additional €48,500 from Sandyford to Dun Laoghaire to aid cash flow, intending to return it when possible. Behrens had no prior convictions, had cooperated with Gardaí, and repaid over €40,000. Judge Martin Nolan, noting his financial difficulties and the impact on future employment, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, concluding that a custodial term was not warranted. The case highlighted the misuse of company funds for personal expenses and the legal consequences of such theft.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: No jail for former lobbyist who stole to pay private school fees. Charges or matters: one count of stealing €10,250 from Dun Laoghaire Business Improvement District on June 16, 2017; one count of stealing €10,250 from Sandyford Business Improvement District on a date unknown in August 2017. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- June 16, 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2023-01-16 Publication
Why: Sven Spollen Behrens (54), who later became director of the Small Firms' Association (SFA) and has since resigned, stole just over €20,000 in order to pay private school fees. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: one count of stealing €10,250 from Dun Laoghaire Business Improvement District on June 16, 2017; one count of stealing €10,250 from Sandyford Business Improvement District on a date unknown in August 2017 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He said he did not believe Spollen Behrens' deserved a custodial term and imposed a two-year suspended sentence.
Places mentioned
Topics
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