Sean O'Neill jailed for theft of €28,530

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

Liquidator Sean O'Neill, 72, was sentenced at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to two years in prison, with all but the final five months suspended, for theft of €28,530. Judge Martin Nolan also ordered that €18,000 brought to court be paid over to the relevant party.

O'Neill pleaded guilty to the theft, which occurred on dates between 5 May and 7 June 2013. The proceedings were reported on 28 November 2019.

Garda Miriam Redican told the court that a Galway restaurant employee had been awarded €45,000 following a successful employment law claim. The restaurant later went into liquidation and O'Neill was appointed liquidator.

The Department of Social Protection transferred the €45,000 into O'Neill's account under its insolvency payment scheme. He passed €15,000 to the employee but did not hand over the balance. O'Neill said in a garda interview that he had always intended to honour the outstanding amount, but never did.

Redican agreed with defence counsel Luigi Rea that O'Neill had been caught up in the financial crash and had given himself a short-term loan. Rea said O'Neill intended to clear the balance.

Judge Nolan said a custodial sentence could not be avoided because of the breach of trust. He considered O'Neill's guilty plea, co-operation, lack of previous convictions, financial pressure and the €18,000 brought to court.