Bookies’ manager charged with stealing almost €600k

Gardaí arrested the former manager of a Cork City bookmakers office yesterday and charged him with stealing almost €600,000 from his employer over a period of 21 months.

Detective Garda Padraig Harrington arrested Ronan Crowley, aged 33, with an address at Carrig Downs, Carrigtwohill, Co Cork, and charged him with 236 counts of stealing sums totalling €590,810 from Boyles Sports, Castle St in Cork.

The charges allege that Mr Crowley stole varying sums on different dates between November 19, 2011, and September 2, 2013. No sooner had Mr Crowley appeared in court than he indicated a signed plea of guilty to all charges.

At Cork District Court, Det Garda Harrington gave evidence of arrest, charge, and caution and told the court Mr Crowley made no reply to the charges after caution. Inspector Finbarr O’Sullivan said the DPP had directed trial by indictment by judge and jury at circuit court level on all 236 charges which are contrary to the Theft and Fraud Offence Act.

Defence solicitor, Frank Buttimer, said that his client was waiving his right to preliminary examination and wanted to go forward on a signed plea of guilty to the circuit court.

Judge Leo Malone sent Mr Crowley forward on a signed plea of guilty to the next sittings of Cork Circuit Criminal Court starting on May 12. He also granted Mr Crowley free legal aid after Mr Buttimer said his client was an unemployed father- of-two in receipt of social assistance.

Gardaí had no objection to bail and Judge Malone remanded Mr Crowley on his own bond of €500 to appear at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on May 12.