Laois man stole thousands from local care home where he worked
Portlaoise Courthouse
A MAN stole €10,000 from the care home where he was employed. Days later, he presented himself at a local garda station, admitted the theft and returned more than €9,000 of the stolen money.
That’s what Portlaoise District Court heard last week when Darren Broughan (46), Colliers Wood, Colliers Lane, Portlaoise pleaded guilty to theft from the Sue Ryder Care Home/Retirement Community at Kilminchy, Portlaoise on 27 September.
Garda Sgt Kirby said that gardaí received a report of the theft of €10,000 and a cheque from a safe at the care home on 27 September. He said that three days later, 30 September, Mr Broughan presented himself at the garda station with €9,305 and informed gardaí that he used to work in the retirement home and that it was he who had taken the money from the safe.
“It was unusual circumstances. He presented himself to the garda station and returned the money. It was highly unusual, but there were underlying issues. He’s 46 and has no previous convictions. I’d ask that a probation and welfare report be undertaken on him,” said the defendant’s solicitor Barry Fitzgerald.
He said that his client disputes the amount of money involved in the case: “€10,000 taken and over €9,000 returned, he disputes this figure,” said Mr Fitzgerald.
Judge Andrew Gubbins ordered a pre-sanction probation report and remanded Mr Broughan on continuing bail to the 8 March sitting of the court.
