Former bodhrán festival chair avoids jail for fraud
Dan Cronin, aged 48, of 23 Kilcolman, Milltown, had pleaded guilty to 27 charges of theft and fraud related to the festival.
He admitted writing nine cheques totalling almost €12,000 from the account of his former employer, William O’Shea, which he claims were used to pay off debts incurred by the festival, which is now defunct.
At Killorglin Court, Judge James O’Connor suspended the sentence on condition that Cronin paid €3,000 into the court and he also gave a sworn undertaking not to become involved in any way in a voluntary organisation.
Earlier this year, he was jailed for two weeks in relation to the charges
He was then described by his solicitor, Padraig O’Connell, as “a classic example of the fallen man”.
The court was told all debts have been paid back by Cronin’s family.
A previous court sitting heard Cronin did not gain personally from the fraud, but he had used the cheques to write off debts incurred by the festival while he was at its helm. Letters pleading for leniency from a number of voluntary organisations in which he had been previously involved, in Milltown, were sent to the court.
