Jorge Garcia given community service for theft

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Jorge Garcia received a two-year suspended sentence and was ordered to complete 240 hours of community service for theft at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. Judge Desmond Hogan bound him to the peace for two years and placed him under the supervision of the Probation Services for 12 months. The proceedings were reported on 13 February 2015.

He pleaded guilty to six sample counts from a total of 32 theft charges. The offences occurred between 18 April 2013 and 8 August 2013.

Garcia, a care assistant at Cheeverstown in Dublin, stole €960 from six intellectually disabled residents’ accounts by altering withdrawal figures and using a photocopy of an authorising signature. The court heard that he had repaid the money. He had no previous convictions.

David Staunton BL, defending, told the court that Garcia had been sending money to Spain to assist his elderly parents. He later injured his back at work and came under financial pressure when placed on sick pay. Counsel said Garcia accepted that his actions were a significant breach of trust and that the residents were vulnerable people.

Judge Hogan accepted that Garcia had co-operated with the garda investigation but noted that he had taken advantage of vulnerable people. He said Garcia’s plea had assisted the gardaí in prosecuting him because of the residents’ disabilities.