Accountant bought piano using company cheque

One company cheque was made out for the purchase of a piano for his family by an accountant who defrauded a hospitality business.

Kieran O’Halloran, aged 44, a separated father of three, of Keelgrove, Ardnacrusha, pleaded guilty at Limerick Circuit Court to 15 counts of theft involving sums totalling about €50,000 from two companies — Mullally Taverns and Racefield Catering which ran Russells bar and Franz restaurant in Raheen.

He also admitted falsifying loan applications at KBC bank for professional fees he said were due to him from another business amounting to €18,225. Some of the money O’Halloran stole was actually due to Revenue and as a result of this money not being paid, penalties were imposed on the companies, sparking a full Revenue audit.