Former employee charged with stealing €73,000 from Martin Shanahan’s Fishy Fishy restaurant in Kinsale

Nessa Gilsenan faces over 130 charges, including theft and false accounting, at Martin Shanahan’s award-winning Fishy Fishy restaurant

Nessa Gilsenan appeared at Bandon District Court on Thursday 20th March 2025. Picture: Larry Cummins.

A woman has been charged with stealing more than €73,000 from a TV chef at his famous Cork restaurant as well as false accounting.

Nessa Gilsenan, 51, faces more than 130 charges, including more than 110 for theft from her employer, Martin Shanahan, at the Fishy Fishy restaurant in Kinsale.

She faces additional charges involving alleged false accounting within the business.

The alleged thefts – totalling more than €73,000 – included amounts ranging from €82 to more than €1,600.

They are alleged to have occurred between 2017 and 2022.

Ms Gilsenan, of Copper Beech House, Mellifontstown, Kinsale, appeared in Bandon District Court wearing a cream jumper, white shirt and blue jeans. Her shoulder-length brunette hair was worn neatly down.

It is alleged that Ms Gilsenan stole property at Fishy Fishy Restaurant, Crowley’s Quay, Kinsale, belonging to Mr Shanahan, contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

She faces other charges alleging that she dishonestly, with the intention of making a gain for herself or another, provided information for her employer, Mr Shanahan, for the purpose of weekly staff payroll payment approval, produced or used a document made or required for accounting purposes which she knew was misleading, false, or deceptive, contrary to Section 10 (1) (C) and (3) of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

The court heard that Ms Gilsenan faced more than 120 charges, and her solicitor, Daithí O’Donnabhain, requested “a slightly lengthy” adjournment until late May to allow for disclosure and for him to consider the position “in totality.” He said that he had been in contact with the State Solicitor regarding the case.

Judge John King agreed to his request and granted a disclosure order.

Mr O’Donnabhain said that limited disclosure might suffice and that the full book of evidence might not be necessary.

Ms Gilsenan was remanded on continuing bail until May 15, when Kinsale District Court will again sit in Bandon District Court.

Mr O'Donnabhain handed in an application for legal aid, a statement of means, and a payslip from his client.

Ms Gilsenan was deemed entitled to legal aid, the court heard.

Multi-award-winning restaurant Fishy Fishy is owned by TV chef Martin Shanahan, who is named in the charges and who starred in multiple RTÉ cookery series.