Garda admits to €600 ATM scam

A Dublin-based garda has admitted defrauding AIB out of €600 in an ATM scam.

Garda Raymond Geelan, aged 38, from Hayworth, the Ongar, Dublin 15, is awaiting sentence after yesterday pleading guilty to four counts of deception and one charge of attempted deception in connection with a series of ATM withdrawals.

The offences occurred at AIB cash machines in Maynooth, Co Kildare, and in Blanchardstown, Dublin, on five dates from March 30 to May 1, 2013.

At Dublin District Court, Judge Michael Walsh heard that on each occasion the deception involved Geelan using his own bank card to withdraw €170.

Detective Superintendent John Keane said Geelan used his own PIN, and that the requested amount was dispensed in full, comprising three €50 notes and a €20 note. Det Supt Keane said the accused “manipulated the notes and took €150” and he left the €20 in the machine’s dispensing tray.

“The machine is programmed to automatically retract that money into the retracting tray,” he said.

“At that time the machine was unable to identify how much money was taken back into the machine. It is flagged as an extraordinary transaction and the full value is refunded to the account,” Det Supt Keane said.

Geelan, a married father to be and with no previous convictions, received refunds with the total amount defrauded coming to €600.

A serving garda for 14 years, Geelan is currently suspended from duty, on three-quarters pay, and will face Garda disciplinary proceedings after the court prosecution is finalised.