Courts / Meath / Report

Woman whose fraud forced family's famous barbershop into liquidation avoids jail

Date
2023-11-08

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Stamullen

County
Meath

Summary

Linda Finnegan, aged 51, of Stamullen, was found guilty of fraud under the Companies Act for withdrawing €35,601 from her family's Waldorf Barbers, a business she owned 25 % of. The fraud occurred in March 2019, shortly after her father Liam Finnegan's death from cancer. The court heard that Liam had owned 75 % of the company and had bequeathed that share to two employees, while Linda had a 25 % share. She had initially denied theft charges but pleaded guilty to a fourth count of fraud. The court set a headline sentence of two and a half years, reduced to one year and nine months, fully suspended. The judgment noted her remorse, cooperation with Gardaí, and that the company was liquidated as a result of the fraud. No prior convictions were recorded.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Woman whose fraud forced family's famous barbershop into liquidation avoids jail. Charges or matters: fraud under the Companies Act on March 27, 2019, about a month after her father's death from cancer; a fourth count of fraud when this was presented. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

March 27, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
February 2019 Incident
March 2019 Incident
2023-11-08 Publication

Case subjects

Linda Finnegan

Defendant

Charges: fraud under the Companies Act on March 27, 2019, about a month after her father's death from cancer; a fourth count of fraud when this was presented (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: Judge Crowe set a headline sentence of two and a half years, but in light of Ms Finnegan's guilty plea and other mitigating circumstances, she reduced this to one year and nine months, suspended in full.