Employee's 'amateurish' fraud netted him €37,000

A LOCAL man who stole almost €37,000 from his employer in a "basic and amateurish" fraud has had his sentencing adjourned at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

William Ormsby (41), of The Downs, Dunshaughlin, wrote his own name after the company name on cheques payable to his employer's business and lodged amounts totalling €36,713 into his own bank account.

Ormsby pleaded guilty to 10 counts of stealing cheques payable to Professional Hygiene Services (PHS), belonging to Joseph O'Connell, on dates from 11th January 2002 to 9th October 2003.

Judge Katherine Delahunt noted that the money stolen and Joseph O'Connell's legal costs had been recovered in a civil action last year and adjourned the case to allow her consider matters.

Detective-Garda Brian McKenna told prosecuting counsel, Mr Michael Bowman, BL, that Ormsby had been employed by O'Connell to manage the banking and day-to-day running of PHS, which provided hygiene services to businesses around Dublin. The defendant was paid €300 a week, given a 10 per cent share in the company, mobile phone and a company car.

Det-Garda McKenna said an audit in 2003 turned up some discrepancies in the accounts and an investigation revealed that Ormsby had written his name on several cheques payable to PHS from customers and had lodged them to his bank account instead of the company account.

He said Ormsby had no previous convictions, had never come to Garda attention before or since and had paid Joseph O'Connell €45,000 in settlement of a civil case last year. He said the accused had resigned as a director and returned all company property when the thefts came to light.

Witness agreed with defence counsel, Mr John Byrne, BL, that Ormsby had co-operated with the Garda investigation and had provided all relevant documentation to O'Connell at an early stage.

Mr Byrne said Joseph O'Connell and William Ormsby were the only employees of the company which "operated out of the back of a van" and cheques from customers would be sent to both their houses on the understanding that they would be lodged to the company account in Bank of Ireland branch, Killester, Dublin.

He said Ormsby "was not living the high life" and had used some of the money to pay business expenses, such as petrol and phone bills. He described the fraud as "basic and amateurish".

Mr Byrne said Ormsby was a family man who had learned a lesson and had since found new work as a carpenter. He was very remorseful and asked the court not to impose a custodial sentence.