Courts / Dublin / Report
Manager avoids jail for stealing over €13k from crèche that featured on Prime Time
Summary
Saira Mooneeswamy, 53, of Blessington Street, Dublin 7, pleaded guilty to stealing €13,360 from Hyde and Seek Childcare, Shaw Street, Dublin 2, between 1 April 2018 and 15 July 2019. The money was handed to her by parents who wanted to stop paying monthly fees by direct debit while applying for a mortgage. Mooneeswamy, who was the crèche manager at the time, never transferred the funds to the crèche's bank account. She has since repaid the full amount and cooperated with Gardaí. At a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, she was given a fully‑suspended sentence of one year. The court noted her lack of prior convictions, her long employment history, and her quick repayment of the money. The judge described her as unlikely to reoffend and having "succumbed to temptation" over a persistent pattern of behaviour. The case arose after an RTÉ Prime Time investigation into breaches of regulations at several Dublin childcare facilities.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Manager avoids jail for stealing over €13k from crèche that featured on Prime Time. Charges or matters: stealing from Hyde and Seek Childcare, Shaw Street, Dublin 2, between April 1, 2018 and July 15, 2019. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- April 1, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- July 15, 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2024-04-24 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: stealing from Hyde and Seek Childcare, Shaw Street, Dublin 2, between April 1, 2018 and July 15, 2019 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She was given a fully-suspended sentence of one year at a sitting of Dublin Circuit Criminal Court today.
Places mentioned
- Blessington
- Blessington Street
- Dublin
- Shaw Street
- Dublin
- Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
Topics
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