Woman who stole for boyfriend admits robbery

A Wicklow woman who stole €11,300 from her employers for her boyfriend because she didn’t want him to break up with her has had her sentence adjourned at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Her boyfriend, who later entered her employer’s premises and damaged the locks to make it look like the robbery was a break-in, will also be sentenced on a later date.

Wayne Power (aged 32) of Rathsallagh Drive, Shankill, Dublin and Rebecca Daly (aged 26) of Charlesland Court, Greystones both pleaded guilty to the robbery of Q-Park carpark in Bloomfield Shopping Centre, Dun Laoghaire on September 30 2007

Detective garda Sean Allen said Daly told him she was under constant pressure from Power to steal money from her employers so he could pay back a drugs debt. On September 30 he got up as she was going to work and again tried to convince her to steal the money.

She refused and left to start her shift in the carpark. He texted her telling her to "just do it", and "don’t think about it, I won’t let you get into trouble."

She relented and emptied the money from the pay machines into her handbag. She also took an additional €5,000 from the safe.

When she finished work she met Power and told him she’d taken the money. He responded, "very nice" and began laughing.

Daly then gave the office keys to her boyfriend, who went there that night. He damaged the door and lock to make it look like they had been forced open before leaving the keys in the office and fleeing.

He told Daly on his return: "It was horrible to have to do it but I didn’t want to let you down."

Det garda Allen told prosecuting counsel, Mr John Quirke BL, he was called to the premises and spoke to each staff member. He said Daly’s story "didn’t correspond" with the others and when he confronted her she broke down crying and admitted the robbery.

She said she did it "because I was under so much pressure from Wayne. I just wanted him to stay with me and I don’t know why."

Det garda Allen said he arrested Power at his mother’s house and he also made full admissions.

He said he was a cocaine addict and after the robbery had overdosed and was hospitalised for several days. He also handed over the remaining €3,225 of the stolen cash.

Power’s defence counsel, Mr Patrick Reynolds BL, said Daly was offering a "cut-throat defence" and was trying to blame the whole matter on his client. He said Power accepted his part in the robbery and had never tried to offload the blame on his now ex-girlfriend.

He said Power was employed as a plasterer but because of the downturn in the construction industry is studying to be a fitness instructor. He also offered €7,000 in part compensation on Power’s behalf.

Counsel for Daly, Ms Marie Torrens BL, said her client was "severely depressed" and was unemployed since her dismissal from the carpark. She said she had €1,000 in compensation in court.

Judge Frank O’Donnell called it a "very serious" breach of trust and said he "had no doubt Mr Power played a very big part".

He adjourned sentencing until January and ordered a probation report, indicating he would not jail the pair if it was favourable.