Two friends who tried to defraud a bookmaker of more than €100,000 may avoid prison by carrying out community service.
Stephen McDowell (24) was a cashier in Paddy Power bookmakers in Artane. He admitted to accepting a fraudulent bet from his friend Stephen Fitzgerald (23).
Both men, with addresses at Larch Hill Square, Santry, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to obtaining €111,111 by deception from Paddy Power bookmakers on March 8th, 2005.
Judge Bryan McMahon said he accepted that people exposed to that kind of environment might feel it was an easy way to make a lot of money but he said they realised "the extent of the gamble they took" and they must not have considered the risk involved.
He described the crime as "naive" and said McDowell should have realised the security checks used by the company.
Judge McMahon said it wasn't uncommon for young men to come under such financial pressures but if everyone in such a situation took the course they did, then more people would be facing criminal charges.