Ex-Anglo executive to work with homeless

One of the two Anglo executives sentenced to community service is expected to work with homeless people.

Pat Whelan, aged 52, from Malahide, Co Dublin, has been placed with a homeless agency, the Irish Examiner understands.

Whelan, along with fellow former director William McAteer, were sentenced to 240 hours of community service at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for illegal lending.

It is not yet known where McAteer, aged 63, with an address in Rathgar, Dublin, will complete his service.

He may also get an individual placement in a charity, rather than in a group project.

Whelan was the former head of lending at Anglo Irish Bank, while McAteer was director of finance.

Judge Martin Nolan previously stated he was considering giving the men a jail term, but yesterday said they were suitable for community service. He said they had been co-operating with the Probation Service since their conviction.

“Gentlemen, enjoy your community service,” said Judge Nolan, before the men were taken away.

Plans had already been put in place for what are seen as high-profile cases for the Probation Service.

Community service orders are an alternative to prison and are not considered a lighter punishment. The minimum term is 40 hours and the maximum is 240 hours, which must be completed within a year.

Both men have to sign a contract with the Probation Service, which covers dates and times for their work; when it is to be completed; details on the type of work; and where it will be.

Most community service projects involve group work, typically involving painting, graffiti removal or gardening. However, it can also involve individual placement in a charity shop or in a food centre.

People on the programmes are supervised, either by Probation officers or charity staff, which may be the case in Whelan’s case.

Figures show it costs in the region of €1,500 to supervise an offender in the community, compared to €66,000 for a prisoner.

Former justice minister Alan Shatter repeatedly chastised the judiciary for failing to sufficiently use legislation he brought in obliging them to consider community service when weighing up whether or not to impose a jail term.

There were 2,354 community service orders in 2013, compared to 2,569 in 2012 and 2,738 in 2011.