A judge issued a caution after she heard it alleged in court that a young woman had told the father of her child that he had better come up with money if he wanted to see the child.
The court heard that the man stole a chequebook belonging to his employer and went on an €8,000 spending spree in an effort to win back the affections of his ex-girlfriend.
Mr Brian Purcell (25), Tullyvoheen, Clifden, Co Galway, accumulated bills worth €8,560 over a two-month period before being discovered.
Clifden District Court was told that he was finding it difficult to get access to his two-year-old daughter and he had used most of the money on items for his child and her mother, who lived in Mayo.
Defending solicitor Mr J.J. Mannion said his client had gone out with the woman for two years and they had become engaged before they split up.
He said Mr Purcell was under a lot of pressure and had bought a lot of things for her and their child in a bid to win back her affections.
Judge Mary Fahy, after hearing that Mr Purcell had received text messages from her saying he would need to come up with money if he wanted to see his daughter, told Mr Mannion that he should write to the woman in question pointing out that this could be a criminal offence. She said access to a child could be sorted out through the courts.
Clifden District Court was told yesterday that Mr Purcell worked for a Northern Ireland man who owned a summer house in Roundstone, Connemara. Mr Purcell found a chequebook belonging to the man and wrote cheques between October and December last year. €8,560 was spent before his actions were discovered.
Judge Fahy said she was prepared to adjourn to give Mr Purcell time to pay compensation.He paid €1,150 in compensation yesterday and was ordered to pay another €2,000 by January 27th next.