Worker who stole from IBRC clients avoids jail

A Westmeath resident who alerted his employers to the fact he had stolen over €2,000 from clients in mortgage arrears has avoided jail.

Shane O’Brien, aged 29, was working in the early arrears team in IBRC when he took cash payments from four clients and pocketed it rather than passing it on to be offset against mortgages.

O’Brien of Killucan Manor Drive, Rathwire, Killucan, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to theft from IBRC on dates between November 2011 and July 2013. He has no previous convictions.

Judge Martin Nolan imposed a one-year suspended term on condition O’Brien repay IBRC the total €2,886 he stole within a month.

He said O’Brien took the money because he felt he was in great need of it at the time .

He accepted that he made a full confession to his employers and gardaí and had not been in trouble before or since. “It is a source of great regret that a man such as him should commit such a crime,” Judge Nolan said.

Garda Daragh Kenny told Garrett McCormack, prosecuting, O’Brien had been dealing with clients that were less than six months in arrears.

James Dwyer, defending, said his client was having trouble in his relationship at the time and confirmed his contract with IBRC was not renewed after the offences.