Freelance travel agent who 'wanted to make friends' stole €29k from holidaymakers

Accused offered cut-price package holidays and travel breaks until 'things got out of control' and she falsified receipts and confirmations of bookings, leaving some holidaymakers stranded abroad, court heard

Accused 'lacked business acumen' to keep track of payments and began using deposits paid by customers to complete the costs of others bookings. Some holidays were only partially paid for, or not booked at all, court told

A freelance travel agent who stole nearly €29,000 from 31 holiday makers has received a fully suspended prison sentence.

Lawyers for Kelli Kilpatrick, 34, told Judge Martin Nolan at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court that in 2017 Kilpatrick began offering to arrange discounted holidays in order to make friends.