Suspended sentence for man who stole over €26k from company he worked for

A man who stole over €26,000 from the company he worked for for 20 years because of a gambling addiction has been given a suspended 18-month sentence.

John Canny (41) was described by his former Philips Ireland colleagues as honest, trustworthy, hardworking and diligent.

Several of them were in court to support him at his Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing yesterday.

Canny, of Foxborough Road, Lucan, Co Dublin, pleaded guilty to nine sample counts of stealing from the company on dates between August 2014 and June 2019.

He also pleaded guilty to one count of providing false information in relation to the company’s 2016 financial year on June 12, 2018.

A further 17 counts – 16 counts of theft and another count of providing false information – were taken into consideration. He has no previous convictions.

The court heard that Canny immediately confessed to stealing the money when the two false statements he had made about the company’s financial years of 2016 and 2017 were noticed by auditors in June last year.

The company had no idea at the time that any money was missing.

 By the time Canny confessed, he had already repaid €11,267 of the €26,051 he stole.

The entire amount has since been repaid.

Sentencing Canny yesterday Judge Elma Sheahan said it was a “most unusual case given the manner in which the theft came to light and the members of the company who have come to court and given evidence and written testimonials”.

She noted Canny had effectively brought himself before the court by confessing to stealing the money, which the company had not been aware of.

She said it was a significant mitigating factor that he has since repaid all of the money he stole.

She handed down an 18-month sentence and suspended it on a number of conditions.

Sergeant William Kavanagh of the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) told the sentence hearing that Canny stole the money from the company in a series of 86 transactions which he filed under genuine suppliers.

In relation to the false financial statements, the court heard Canny filed these in a panic because he had forgotten to do so and was fearful for his job.

When questioned about those statements, Canny also confessed to stealing the money.

The court heard he had a gambling addiction at the time, and would steal money before returning some of it.

His former boss, Larry Keaveney, told the court he was “gobsmacked” when he heard what Canny had done.

Mr Keaveney said he never saw such a diligent, hardworking worker as Canny in all his years with Philips Ireland.

He described how Canny would regularly work long hours and protest against standard pay rises, saying he didn’t deserve them. 

 Defence counsel said Canny had “difficult family circumstances” growing up.

He was described by his counsellor as being a “painfully shy” and polite man who struggled with “low self-esteem”.

The gambling addiction came about as a result of isolation and loneliness, the court heard.

In the wake of the theft, Canny was fired by Philips Ireland, where he worked for nearly 20 years, the court heard.

He has since found new employment.