Courts / Westmeath / Report
GAA star stole thousands from barrister to spend on online shopping
Summary
Dinah Loughlin, a 30‑year‑old GAA star from Kilbeggan, Westmeath, pleaded guilty to twenty counts of theft for stealing more than €28,000 from her employer, senior counsel Marguerite Bolger, over a five‑year period. While working as a legal secretary, Loughlin used Bolger's credit‑card and bank accounts to pay for transcription work and to make personal purchases, including online shopping at Asos, River Island, Amazon, and gift‑cards from an office‑supply site. She also withdrew cash from an ATM and bought CDs, DVDs, an iPod, and paid her motor tax through Bolger's account. After the thefts were discovered, Loughlin repaid the money with savings earmarked for a wedding and sold her car. The Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, hearing that Bolger had a "very benevolent view" of the offence, imposed a two‑year suspended sentence, suspended for two years, noting Loughlin's previous good character and repayment. The judge warned that she was "perilously close" to jail.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: GAA star stole thousands from barrister to spend on online shopping. Charges or matters: twenty sample counts of theft at The Law Library, Dublin between 2009 and 2014. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 2014 Other
- 2009 and 2014 Incident
- 2016-07-19 Publication
Why: She claimed she had bought the items unintentionally because she was so used to using Ms Bolger's cards. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: twenty sample counts of theft at The Law Library, Dublin between 2009 and 2014 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: She imposed a two year sentence, suspended for two years.
Places mentioned
Topics
Related court reports
- Three jailed for gang rape of schoolgirl want sentences reduced
- Suspended sentence for man who fled Covid checkpoint and later led gardai on 200km/h chase
- 'Not a shred of humanity': sentences totalling 66 years over gang rape of girl (17)
- 'I ask that you don't let this be the defining moment of your life': gang rape victim addresses attacker
- Gang Rape Case: trial summary
- Gang rape trial: jury convicts three men of rape, while one guilty of sex assault
If a fact, identity, locality or legal outcome needs review, email the newsroom with this report's details prefilled.
Email a correction request