A former postman has admitted stealing credit cards, PIN numbers and other items of mail over a 12-month period when he was an employee of An Post in Dundalk.
Dundalk District Court yesterday heard that Mr Ciaran Conachy (27) of Ashling Park, Dundalk, was admitting the larceny and fraud charges that relate to various dates in 2002.
Det Garda Charlie Geoghan said that when gardaí went to Mr Conachy's home with a warrant, and searched it on November 7th, 2002, they found 44 packets of open mail that had been taken from the sorting office that day.
He said Mr Conachy admitted taking mostly credit cards that he would then use to buy goods on the Internet. The amount involved was hard to quantify but was approximately €6,000, with around €2,600 in cash recovered as well as some goods.
Solicitor Mr Frank McDonnell said that, in many respects, "it was a relief for him to get caught" and Mr Conachy had succumbed to the temptation and opportunity resulting from his job.
He had been an enthusiastic postman for two-and-a-half years but is no longer working for An Post, and has not been able to get other work. Judge Flann Brennan adjourned the case to December 10th next.