School caretaker 'stole to pay wife's medical expenses'

A caretaker who stole more than €28,000 from the school he worked in to pay for his wife’s hospital fees after she miscarried has been given a two-year suspended sentence.

Daniel Miron (aged 42) of Castleheany in Clonee pleaded guilty to eight counts of theft at Castleheany Educate Together School at Littlepace, Clonee on dates between November 25, 2008 and June 26, 2009.

The court heard that Miron had repaid €11,000 and €17,000 had been recovered.

Judge Frank O’Donnell imposed a two-year sentence which he suspended on strict conditions.

Garda Kieran Campbell told Mr Kerida Naidoo BL, prosecuting, that the school’s deputy principal discovered cash, cheques and lodgement slips in Miron’s locked office during a health and safety audit of the building.

The deputy principal found an unlocked box in his desk drawer which contained €3,005 in cash in a bundle and a further €6,900 in loose cash as well as lodgement slips.

Miron, who had been employed at the school for three years, was responsible for lodging money from the school into the bank on a regular basis. The deputy principal informed the principal, Ms Mary Healy, who called Miron into the school.

“He remained calm and explained that he was too busy to go to the bank the previous Friday due to a sports day taking place at the school,” said garda Campbell.

When he was told that there was some money missing from the bundles, he said: “No problem, no problem, I will give it back now” and took €40 from his wallet.

Ms Healy also found a bag containing new runners and socks in his locker which he said were “for the poor children in the country”.

Following a reconciliation by the principal and members of the Board of Management of the school’s accounts, they discovered that €28,025.75 had not been lodged to the bank and of that, €17,095.73 was recovered in Miron’s office and the remaining €10,930 was missing.

Miron, who is originally from Romania, was arrested, admitted the offences and told gardaí: “It was a very hard winter, bills were high.”

He explained his wife had miscarried their baby at 27 weeks and he had to pay the hospital bill as he did not have a medical card.

Mr John Fitzgerald BL, defending, said Miron had intended to pay back the money.

“He didn’t make efforts to conceal what he was doing and kept the lodgement slips so he could make up the shortfall of the cash,” said Mr Fitzgerald.

“His wife miscarried their baby and spent six days in hospital which he had to pay the bill for and the offences arose at a time of financial and personal difficulties,” he explained.

As a result of the charges, Miron removed his child from the school.

Mr Fitzgerald submitted that Miron’s family sold property in Romania and that he would be able to pay back €10,930 to the school.

“He made a stupid decision (which) he now regrets,” said Mr Fitzgerald.