Margaret McDonnell, 23, received a suspended jail sentence after spending the money on items for her two children - including bedclothes, clothes and shoes - the Irish Mirror reports .
She also ate out every night for two weeks - brought her friends and family out for dinner - and bought gifts including two crystal vases and a “crystal mushroom lamp”, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.
McDonnell - who insisted "any young girl on social welfare like me would have done what I did” - was ordered to pay just €1,000 (£860) back to the bank within 18 months.
Referring to the money lodged in McDonnell's account, Judge Cormac Quinn commented: “If it's too good to be true it is because it is too good to be true."
Oisin Clarke, defending, said it was a case of the goose laying golden eggs and McDonnell spending the money before it stopped.
Margaret McDonnell's details were wrongly given to a customer making a large deposit(Photo: Irish Mirror WS)
McDonnell of Rathvilly Park, Finglas, pleaded guilty to 13 counts of theft of cash from Bank of Ireland on dates between 7 and 16 March 2013.
Between large ATM withdrawals and money spent in shops and restaurants, a total of €24,946 (£21,400) was taken.
Last January, Judge Quinn adjourned the case to give time to the Probation Service to assess McDonnell's suitability for community service.
And today, he noted that the Probation Service had put her at a low risk of re-offending.
He suspended a sentence of 18 months on condition that she pay €1,000 (£860) back to the bank within 18 months- and also ordered her to carry out 150 hours of community service.
Detective Garda Karl Smith told the court that in March 2013 a Bank of Ireland customer went into the branch in Finglas to get details to allow the transfer of €51,808 (£44,450) into his account from a foreign bank account.
He was given an IBAN number but when the money did not later show up in his bank account, he contacted the bank again. It was then discovered he had been incorrectly given the details of McDonnell's account.
Margaret McDonnell spent the cash on her kids and her friends - including meals and gifts (Photo: Irish Mirror WS)
The €51,808 had dropped into her account on March 6. The following day she withdrew €5,000 (£4,290).
Over the next nine days she spent large amounts in Dunnes Stores, Tesco, Heatons, Centra, Lifestyle Sports, Shoe Rack and New Look.
On discovering its mistake, the bank took back the €26,862 (£23,000) remaining from the original deposit.
They also wrote to McDonnell asking her to repay the rest but she ignored the letter.
After her arrest she accepted full responsibility for spending the money. She told the gardai (the local police) that she thought the money was hers if it was in her bank account.
She said: “I just went on a high. It was such a lot of money. It was in my account so as far as I was concerned, it was mine."
She said she spent the money “on everything and anything, stupid things”.
Asked if she was bothered by the thefts she told gardaí: “If only you knew me, you would know I was bothered by this.
"Any young girl on social welfare like me would have done what I did.”
She said she ignored the letter from the bank because she was scared and realised she had done something wrong.
Mr Clarke said his client had never before had disposal income to spend and had never been able to buy gifts for friends or family.
On March 7 she spent €3,844 (£3,300) in Tierney's gift shop in Blanchardstown after buying two crystal vases and a crystal lamp.
Judge Quinn asked how she managed to spend so much in gift shops that sell “ordinary middle of the road type gifts”.
Counsel said McDonnell had never been in trouble before and had always tried to live her life in an upright fashion.
Det Gda Smith said it was highly unlikely she would reoffend.
He said she had “flittered the money away” and had nothing to show for it all.
Mr Clarke said McDonnell receives €250 (£215) lone parent allowance each week and could only afford to pay €15 (£12.90) out of this to make up the stolen money.
Judge Quinn said the offences weren't pre-planned and the money was spent on mundane things.
from UK Mirror
She also ate out every night for two weeks - brought her friends and family out for dinner - and bought gifts including two crystal vases and a “crystal mushroom lamp”, Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard.
McDonnell - who insisted "any young girl on social welfare like me would have done what I did” - was ordered to pay just €1,000 (£860) back to the bank within 18 months.
Referring to the money lodged in McDonnell's account, Judge Cormac Quinn commented: “If it's too good to be true it is because it is too good to be true."
Oisin Clarke, defending, said it was a case of the goose laying golden eggs and McDonnell spending the money before it stopped.
Margaret McDonnell's details were wrongly given to a customer making a large deposit(Photo: Irish Mirror WS)
McDonnell of Rathvilly Park, Finglas, pleaded guilty to 13 counts of theft of cash from Bank of Ireland on dates between 7 and 16 March 2013.
Between large ATM withdrawals and money spent in shops and restaurants, a total of €24,946 (£21,400) was taken.
Last January, Judge Quinn adjourned the case to give time to the Probation Service to assess McDonnell's suitability for community service.
And today, he noted that the Probation Service had put her at a low risk of re-offending.
He suspended a sentence of 18 months on condition that she pay €1,000 (£860) back to the bank within 18 months- and also ordered her to carry out 150 hours of community service.
Detective Garda Karl Smith told the court that in March 2013 a Bank of Ireland customer went into the branch in Finglas to get details to allow the transfer of €51,808 (£44,450) into his account from a foreign bank account.
He was given an IBAN number but when the money did not later show up in his bank account, he contacted the bank again. It was then discovered he had been incorrectly given the details of McDonnell's account.
Margaret McDonnell spent the cash on her kids and her friends - including meals and gifts (Photo: Irish Mirror WS)
The €51,808 had dropped into her account on March 6. The following day she withdrew €5,000 (£4,290).
Over the next nine days she spent large amounts in Dunnes Stores, Tesco, Heatons, Centra, Lifestyle Sports, Shoe Rack and New Look.
On discovering its mistake, the bank took back the €26,862 (£23,000) remaining from the original deposit.
They also wrote to McDonnell asking her to repay the rest but she ignored the letter.
After her arrest she accepted full responsibility for spending the money. She told the gardai (the local police) that she thought the money was hers if it was in her bank account.
She said: “I just went on a high. It was such a lot of money. It was in my account so as far as I was concerned, it was mine."
She said she spent the money “on everything and anything, stupid things”.
Asked if she was bothered by the thefts she told gardaí: “If only you knew me, you would know I was bothered by this.
"Any young girl on social welfare like me would have done what I did.”
She said she ignored the letter from the bank because she was scared and realised she had done something wrong.
Mr Clarke said his client had never before had disposal income to spend and had never been able to buy gifts for friends or family.
On March 7 she spent €3,844 (£3,300) in Tierney's gift shop in Blanchardstown after buying two crystal vases and a crystal lamp.
Judge Quinn asked how she managed to spend so much in gift shops that sell “ordinary middle of the road type gifts”.
Counsel said McDonnell had never been in trouble before and had always tried to live her life in an upright fashion.
Det Gda Smith said it was highly unlikely she would reoffend.
He said she had “flittered the money away” and had nothing to show for it all.
Mr Clarke said McDonnell receives €250 (£215) lone parent allowance each week and could only afford to pay €15 (£12.90) out of this to make up the stolen money.
Judge Quinn said the offences weren't pre-planned and the money was spent on mundane things.
from UK Mirror
Hahahahahaha its not her fault.
ReplyDeleteSerendipity.
ReplyDeleteI dey tell you
Deleteif it's too good to be true, that's because it is actually too good to be true. 😚😜😜😜
DeleteThe law was really fair to her. They didn't even take all the stuffs she bought to resell and get some of their money back.
DeleteSadly the staff that gave out the wrong account details to their client will suffer for it.
hahahahaha this is really mannas from heaven. Foolish woman and she wacked all
ReplyDeleteShe's not foolish.
DeleteFoolish, how?
DeleteAwoof!
ReplyDeleteEeheenn!!! She was balling
ReplyDeleteOpportunity comes but once. Hehehehe
ReplyDeleteHmn! see the life of a poor man!!!! he has nevver seen money before and the first chance she got, she blew it!!!! she could not think of a car, a house, school, training, her kids school fees nothing!!!! she was just spending a whole $50 thousand dollars. It leaves a very bad taste in the mouth.
ReplyDeleteThat is why I feel this welfare system only encourage laziness and poverty then when black Africans who have dream get better educated or utilize their own money better they beef them and try to harm the either socially or bodily.
But on a serious note, I always tell my Accounts department that if they ever try that nonsense of paying me double salary they should just forget it. A couple of times they have mistakenly overpaid some staff and they now start harassing them for spending the money playing some mind games with them calling them dishonest and etc.
I always knew I will spend the money so I warn them very serious and support their victims to their face.
She doesn't need a house cos Govt has provided her with a roof over her head. She can have that type of housing for as long as lives. Education (good education) is also free for her kids. So it's not a priority. Car? Lol. You don't NEED one in the western world. Even at that, a car isn't an asset. And yes, welfare system only encourage these guys to be lazier and lazier. Have plenty time to f**k and give birth to kids for a 'boyfriend' at 23 years old.
DeleteHmn! see the life of a poor man!!!! he has nevver seen money before and the first chance she got, she blew it!!!! she could not think of a car, a house, school, training, her kids school fees nothing!!!! she was just spending a whole $50 thousand dollars. It leaves a very bad taste in the mouth.
ReplyDeleteThat is why I feel this welfare system only encourage laziness and poverty then when black Africans who have dream get better educated or utilize their own money better they beef them and try to harm the either socially or bodily.
But on a serious note, I always tell my Accounts department that if they ever try that nonsense of paying me double salary they should just forget it. A couple of times they have mistakenly overpaid some staff and they now start harassing them for spending the money playing some mind games with them calling them dishonest and etc.
I always knew I will spend the money so I warn them very serious and support their victims to their face.
She's a greedy fellow......she knows the right thing to do but did not do it...
ReplyDeleteShe showed remorse for her crime that's why the judge showed her mercy . Some are hardened criminals .
ReplyDeleteSpending money you didn't know how it got to your bank account. She's a thief. Imagine the rubbish she bought with the money.
ReplyDelete🙌🙌🙌🙌👌
ReplyDeleteBefore nko? It wasn't her fault na. Infact she should re sue them for taking her to court
ReplyDeleteSmart girl...lol
ReplyDeleteI don't blame the poor woman o jare hahahahahahahaha. Unexpected miracle
ReplyDelete😀😁😂
ReplyDeleteFree money
End time spender
ReplyDeleteShe should have spent the money on sensible things....like a good business. Dumbass girl. She literally squandered the whole money.
ReplyDeleteLolz
ReplyDeleteShe just went crazy spending anyhow...
ReplyDeleteLolz.At least she remember her friends and family
ReplyDeleteManna from heaven God allowed into your life and you misused it,am not God but before this woman see this kind of money in her life
ReplyDeleteSenseless woman
ReplyDeleteLol.
ReplyDeleteAwoof don run Belle😂😂
And she over spent money she did not work for, she should just thank her star
ReplyDeleteThese Britico and their welfare system! How the hell did this woman become so naive with free money?!!!! Chai. Poverty truely begins from the mind and not the pocket.
ReplyDeleteDo you know Nigeria is currently experiencing lethal meningitis outbreak in 16 states of the country? Learn about this latest outbreak and how to protect yourself and your loved ones
Another chikito,naive somebody...she is Irish not British,it happened in Ireland(Dublin)
DeleteAnd she still carry d dune bag to court.chai smart girl.
ReplyDeleteReal wawu!
ReplyDeleteKrix signing out via iPhone 7+
You accidentally put money in my account hmmmmm!
ReplyDelete