“It is time to take the wisdom of the Probation Service, the medical profession, and your husband,” Judge John Neilan told a woman who was released on a probation bond following conviction for stealing from her employer.
On February 12 Detective Sergeant Padraic Jones had told the court that the owner of Rustic Oil, Lynn, Mullingar became suspicious in March 2006 that there was some mismanagement of his finances. Catherine O’Connor of Kiltoom, Roscommon emerged as a suspect and was arrested on April 4 2006. Almost €5,000 was taken.
The garda said that over a number of interviews it emerged that Ms O’Connor, who was financial controller for the company had used a suspense account to cover where she had taken the money using credit notes and Visa transactions.
The case was adjourned to June 18 when the judge received a probation report described by solicitor Owen Carthy as “very positive”. He said Ms O’Connor had made “very significant progress”.
Compensation has been paid in full and she has come to no unfavourable Garda notice, in which case Judge Neilan said he would go along with the recommendation of a 12 month probation bond.
“In future these orders may not be applicable,” Judge Neilan reminded the woman who has a previous conviction mentioned at the February court for stealing tens of thousands of euro from the PTSB in Longford where she worked.
