A Dublin publisher has been given an 18-month suspended jail sentence by Judge Kevin Haugh for stealing cheques.
Avine Doyle (35), of Lansdowne Road, Ballsbridge, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to stealing two National Irish Bank cheques, the property of Mr Allesandro Messari, on May 21st and May 28th, 1996. Doyle handed over a £4,150 draft obtained from family members as compensation for the bank.
Ms Isobel Kennedy, defending, said her client was psychiatrically unwell at the time and was undergoing treatment as she suffered from delusions.
Judge Haugh said this was a complex matter as Doyle was engaged in serious fraudulent engagements.
Det Garda Liam Fahy told Mr Fergal Foley, prosecuting, that on July 30th, 1996, National Irish Bank reported the stolen cheques. He said Doyle was the publisher of Leading Estates of Ireland, a business she set up after returning from Florida.
Det Garda Fahy said her business was failing and to pay her debts she reverted to using cheques she had stolen from an acquaintance, Mr Messari, an accountant for a leading company.
Ms Kennedy asked Judge Haugh to consider that Doyle had maintained a friendship with Mr Messari. Ms Kennedy said Doyle had never fully explained to defence counsel what had happened, but she understood there was an arrangement.
She was currently employed in a publishing firm as well as working for herself, and her employers knew of her situation. Judge Haugh said he would take into consideration the fact that she had come into court with total compensation and had pleaded guilty from the start.