Woman admits stealing over €140k in four years from Cork healthcare company

Sentencing was put back until November 2 at Cork Circuit Criminal Court

Twenty of the 43 charges are for theft of sums ranging from around €3,000 to over €9,000 from Change Healthcare Ireland Solutions Ltd. of Grange East, Buttevant, County Cork, on dates between April 2019 and July 2023. File picture: Pexels

Over €140,000 was stolen from Change Healthcare Ireland Solutions Ltd. in Buttevant over a four-year period by a 59-year-old woman who appeared on Wednesday at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

Deborah Lynch of Hazelwood, Kilglass, County Limerick, affirmed her signed plea of guilty to a total of 43 charges when she appeared in the circuit court today.

Twenty of the counts are for theft of sums ranging from around €3,000 to over €9,000 from Change Healthcare Ireland Solutions Ltd. of Grange East, Buttevant, County Cork, on dates between April 2019 and July 2023.

The remaining 23 charges are for creating false documents to facilitate the thefts.

Suzanne Gorey, prosecution barrister, said a victim impact statement would be prepared in advance of sentencing.

Defence barrister Paula McCarthy said: “There is compensation that has to be raised. She won’t be able to raise the entirety but would like the opportunity to put her best foot forward in that regard.” 

Ms McCarthy said Deborah Lynch had no previous convictions. As well as bringing compensation to court there would also be testimonials for the defendant.

Judge Helen Boyle put sentencing back until November 2 at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.

The circumstances that gave rise to the 43 charges will be outlined on that occasion at the sentencing hearing.