A young student became so strapped for cash to pay rent that she devised an elaborate scam to steal from her employer, Mr Price, Judge Valerie Corcoran was told at Galway District Court.
The student, on six occasions, scanned items past her till and then gave herself cash refunds for the items to the value of €393.37. She was captured on the shop’s CCTV system and arrested.
Olivia Traynor solicitor (defending ) said that her client was a 29-year-old mother of an 11-year-old child. She came to Ireland from Portugal to study at the Atlantic Technological University and was sitting her finals in June. She was trying to make a better life for herself and her child and was deeply ashamed of what she had done. Her client was desperate for money. “She just needed it. She couldn’t make rent and was desperate,” Ms Traynor pleaded. Her client had obviously lost her job as a result, she added.
Cleide Fernandes pleaded guilty to the charges and had refunded the money to Mr Price.
Judge Corcoran said that six thefts from her employer were a severe breach of trust. “I can’t let her off six offences in nine days,” she told the defence. However, she had sympathy for her as she was a single parent with no previous convictions, so she would adjourn the case for a year to allow her to complete her studies and for the preparation of a Garda behavioural report.
If this report was favourable she would strike out the charges on condition a €1,000 donation was made to charity.
However, if she reoffended or the Garda report was not favourable, a conviction would be imposed and three €200 fines would be imposed.
In conclusion the Judge warned the defendant that she was getting a chance and would be well advised to take the chance she was being offered.
