Shop assistant gave himself €54k in fake Lotto prizes

A man who stole almost €54,000 from the shop he worked in by awarding himself fake Lotto wins has been jailed for 18 months.

Paul Kavanagh, aged, 25, spent the money on takeaways, taxis and cannabis, his counsel said.

Judge Melanie Greally previously agreed to adjourn the case at Dublin Circuit Criminal court to allow him repay €1,000 a week to the owner of the Londis shop. He also agreed to pay over, within three days, a sum of €3,600 he had saved up.