Paul O'Brien jailed for €1.7m credit union theft

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Paul O'Brien was jailed for three years for stealing almost €1.7m from Finglas Credit Union at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, reported on 11 November 2015. He pleaded guilty to sample theft and falsifying a loan application charges arising from offending between 26 February 2005 and 12 May 2012. The money was taken through bogus loans and stolen cheques, with the total loss reduced by repayments to €453,300. Judge Martin Nolan said O'Brien's position of trust and abuse of that power were aggravating factors, despite his lack of previous convictions and gambling addiction.