FOUR hotel stewards have admitted embezzling over £1/4 million in four years by issuing bogus tickets to discos and other functions. A court heard yesterday that the fraud took place at the Glencarn Hotel, Castleblayney, Co Monaghan.
Judge Mall Deery heard how the men divided the proceeds collected from issuing "dud" tickets which were substituted each night. Before the Circuit Criminal Court, sitting in Castleblayney yesterday were Brendan O'Brien and Francis O'Brien, Drumsheeney, Threemilehouse; Mathew Murphy, The Corran, Monaghan; and Noel McFarland, Coolnalong, Clones. The four men pleaded guilty to, charges of larceny and embezzlement.
The charges related to a period during October and November 1995, involving sums between £75 and £1,145. But Mr Frank Martin, prosecuting, said the four men admitted that the fraud had been going on for longer and that over £250,000 was involved.
Sgt Fintan McTiernan, Castleblayney, gave evidence of a special surveillance operation in which video cameras were used. He said the hotel management suspected the embezzlement because of a margin in receipts between the admission revenue to discos and bar takings.
A priest was called to give character evidence in mitigation for the men and he made a plea to the judge not to jail them.
Judge Deery adjourned the question of penalties to the next sittings but ordered each of the men to pay varying amounts in restitution. Brendan O'Brien was directed to pay £40,000; Francis O'Brien £25,000 and Mathew Murphy £18,000. Noel McFarland - who the court heard had already paid £40,000 - was ordered to pay a further £12,500.