Courts / Dublin / Report

Gambling addict who stole €26k from employer avoids jail

Date
2024-10-07
Stage
Sentence
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

Paul Beggs, 49, of Brookfield Park, Rush, was found guilty of four counts of theft after diverting €26,785.53 from Eventhouse's bank account to his own. He admitted the fraud, citing a gambling addiction, and accepted responsibility. Beggs has paid €1,000 in 2020 and raised an additional €10,000, but the total restitution remains incomplete. He has no further theft convictions and has not been involved with Gardaí since the incident. Beggs has expressed remorse, is drug‑free, attends Alcoholics Anonymous and Gamblers Anonymous, and has re‑entered employment after a period of unemployment. The court, acknowledging his early plea and low re‑offending risk, imposed a suspended sentence of two years and three months, with the full term suspended. He must repay the remaining amount within the next week. The case was heard by Judge Dara Hayes in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Gambling addict who stole €26k from employer avoids jail. Charges or matters: four counts of theft. Procedural stage: sentence

When:

Case subjects

Paul Beggs

Defendant

Charges: four counts of theft (Admitted)

Plea: Guilty

Outcome: However at a sentence hearing last March, it was confirmed that Beggs had raised a further €10,000 and had also secured overtime at work as well as a part-time job. He took account of his early plea and that Beggs is to pay the final instalment of the money in the next week before he imposed a sentence of two years and three months, which was suspended in full.

Places mentioned

Residence
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court

Topics

Drugs Fraud Stage Sentence Theft

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