Garda fined in ATM scam

A Dublin-based Garda has been fined €3,000 for defrauding a bank of €600 in an ATM scam.

Garda Raymond Geelan, aged 38, from Hayworth, Ongar, Dublin 15, avoided a jail term after pleading guilty to four counts of deception and a charge of attempted deception in connection with a series of ATM withdrawals.

Dublin District Court heard that the

offences, which could to lead to him being sacked, occurred at AIB bank machines in Maynooth, Co Kildare, and in Blanchardstown, Dublin, from March 30 to May 1, 2013.

Judge Michael Walsh said: “I can only conclude the accused was engaged in a premeditated and preplanned enterprise with the view of making a financial gain for himself.”

He spared the garda a jail sentence and imposed the fine which must be paid within six months.

Defence solicitor Dara Robinson told Judge Walsh that Geelan is “the big loser from a series of acts of the most extreme folly” and “it is virtually inevitable he will be dismissed from the service”.

The court heard that on each occasion Geelan used his own bank card to withdraw €170.

The requested amount was dispensed as three €50 notes and a €20 note. Det Supt John Keane said he, “manipulated the notes and took €150” and he left €20 in the machine’s dispensing tray.

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

“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.”