A POST office worker who went missing after an audit found up to €1.7 million unaccounted for at the post office where he works has been traced and was undergoing medical treatment last night.
Gardaí are expected to interview the man, 36-year-old Tony O’Reilly with an address in Carlow, as soon as medical staff decide he is fit to be interviewed.
Mr O’Reilly is the postmaster at Gorey post office in Co Wexford, where an audit by An Post has uncovered financial irregularities. Informed sources said up to €1.7 million appears to be unaccounted for.
An Post has begun its own internal investigation and has also made a complaint to the Garda.
A criminal investigation has now begun and involves members of the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation. Initial inquiries are focused on what knowledge Mr O’Reilly may have about the missing money.
The father of one, who is originally from Kilkenny, last Wednesday morning left his home in Carlow town for work in Gorey. His wife, with whom he has a 10-month-old daughter, received a text from Mr O’Reilly’s phone saying he had been in a car accident near Tullow while driving to work.
His family were then unable to contact him and reported him as a missing person. However, it became apparent towards the end of last week that his disappearance could be linked to the missing money.
On Saturday night Mr O’Reilly contacted his family, via e-mail, from Belfast to assure them he was well. He then agreed to travel back to Carlow, where he was reunited with his family yesterday.
He was in a distressed state and was taken to a hospital to be treated and observed. He was still in hospital last night.
Garda sources said it was unclear when Mr O’Reilly might be well enough to be interviewed about the missing money.
The Garda investigation is trying to establish how the money went missing and how far back sums were being taken from the post office. Gardaí will try to determine if the money has all been spent.
A statement issued on behalf of the O’Reillys by family friend Éimear Ní Bhraonáin read: “We are relieved that our son, Tony O’Reilly, has been located safe and well. His mental health and wellbeing are our top priority, as a family.”
An Post issued a brief statement saying: “An Post confirms that following the identification of a discrepancy discovered through internal procedures, the gardaí have commenced an investigation at Gorey Post Office.”
“Gorey Post Office is open for business as normal. The investigation does not impact in any way on customers, retail or mail services.”
A spokeswoman for the company last night told The Irish TimesAn Post would not be making any further comment.