By Isabel Hayes
A Rehab Group transport manager who stole €6,000 from the charity by secretly selling three trucks he claimed were scrapped has been given a nine month suspended sentence.
Michael Delaney (50) of the Spires, Termonfeckin, Co Louth, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to one count of stealing from the company, at Kylemore Road, Ballyfermot, on dates between April 11, 2019 and December 29, 2021.
Garda Shane McHugh told Rebecca Smith BL, prosecuting, that the theft came to light when an internal audit was carried out by the charity in 2021.
Delaney, who was the transport manager at the time, was found to have sold three company trucks and told the charity that they had been scrapped.
He resigned from the company in December 2021 and agreed a schedule to repay the money.
He has paid €600 to date and had €5,400 in cash in court today to give to the charity.
Delaney has one minor previous conviction relating to a road traffic offence, the court heard.
Colm Hennessy BL, defending, said his client co-operated fully with the investigation and entered an early guilty plea.
He is now working elsewhere as a logistical manager, the court heard.
Sentencing him today, Judge Martin Nolan noted Delaney spotted an opportunity and succumbed to temptation to steal from the charity.
He accepted Delaney had made candid admissions and has a good work history.
He handed down a nine month sentence and suspended it in its entirety.
He ordered Delaney to hand over the €5,400 for the charity.