Youth worker spared jail for 'helping gardaí investigate himself'

A Kildare youth worker who stole €40,000 from his employers over a six-year period has been spared jail because he "helped gardaí investigate himself".

After 56-year-old James Brady of Abbey Park View, Dublin Road, Clane, Co Kildare was caught, he repaid the full amount, despite the available evidence only supporting the theft of around €15,000.

Brady worked for Youthreach, a State-funded educational and training programme for early school leavers which is run by the Dublin Vocational Education Committee.

The court heard the thefts involved him using the Youthreach account to pay for household groceries over the years.

Mr Brady pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 17 sample counts of theft from Youthreach at Esker Hill, Lucan between June 2004 and February 2011.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring imposed a three-year suspended term and said that what sets Brady apart from similar offenders is the level of cooperation he showed - which saved the authorities time and effort.