Convicted of stealing over €2,500 from former employer

A WOMAN, charged with stealing €2,651 from her former employers, was found guilty when the case went ahead in her absence at a recent hearing before Judge Ciaran Liddy at Monaghan District Court.

Christina Duffy (33) of Carrickanaire, Loughmourne, Castleblayney, was summonsed for an alleged theft at Philip White Tyres, Ballybay Road, Castleblayney, on May 28, 2024.

Fiona White confirmed to the court that Ms Duffy had been an employee with the company at the time of the alleged offences. Replying to Inspector Declan McGarvey, prosecuting, Ms White said she told Ms Duffy on May 28, 2024, that she was being dismissed because of money that was missing.

It was from bank statements and cash analysis reports that the shortfall was noticed, she said. Cash that should have been lodged in the company’s bank account on certain dates had not been lodged. Ms White also confirmed to the inspector that Ms Duffy had full control over the tills as a member of counter staff.

Looking at the cash analysis for May 21, 2024, the business had taken in €390 by card and €425 by cash. But the cash, including some cheques, hadn’t been lodged. On the following day, May 22, €115 in cash was never lodged. Cash takings of €224 and €227.01 were not lodged on May 24 and May 27 respectively, Ms White detailed.

She also alluded to a note left by Ms Duffy that had stated, “I have taken €200 from Monday’s lodgements for diesel money and cleaning that you did not pay me.”

Handing the bank statements and cash analysis reports up to Judge Liddy, Inspector McGarvey drew attention to some notes written on the back by Ms Duffy in which “some language” was used.

Ms White confirmed to the inspector that the total amount of money she was alleging was missing had come to €2,651. She also stated that, to date, none of this money had been repaid. At no stage had she authorised Ms Duffy to take or retain any money from the business.

In response to Roisin Courtney, solicitor, defending, Ms White said nobody, other than Ms Duffy, had access to monies taken in by the business. Nor did anybody else go to the bank on any occasion. She did not agree that there was a possibility that any othe r person could have “gone in and dipped their hand in the cash box”. Christina was the only person who controlled the till.

Philip White, the owner of the business, took the stand briefly to confirm his position as proprietor and that money was missing that should have been lodged to the business account.

Garda Glen McGrane said that on July 11, 2024, he took a statement from Philip White in which he alleged a theft of money from his business. He had stated that Ms Duffy returned the lodgement card on May 30, 2024, and that he subsequently discovered there was still an outstanding sum of €2,651 that had not been lodged. The garda said that on October 11, 2024, he had arrested Ms Duffy for a theft offence, and that she made no reply after caution.

Judge Liddy indicated that, on the evidence given, he was convicting the defendant in her absence.

Ms Courtney had initially indicated to the court that she had been told Ms Duffy could not be present as she had a bad flu. She said she would ordinarily look to offer compensation in the case of a person who, like her client, had no previous convictions. But that he was unable to say anything further in absence of her client.

Judge Liddy concluded by issuing a bench warrant for Ms Duffy’s arrest for sentencing.