Prisoner who stole €200k Debs money takes up journalism

AN events organiser who hit the headlines when he was jailed for five years for stealing more than €200,000 in deposits for Debs and graduation balls will spend his prison time doing an Open University degree in journalism.

Pat Browne, aged 32, from Inchirahilly, Crookstown, Co Cork, was back before Cork District Court where his educational plans emerged.

Defence solicitor, Frank Buttimer, said Browne was using his time in prison constructively: “He is applying for an Open University course in of all things, journalism. I am sure that will be noted.”