A betting shop clerk who forged a stolen bank draft for £45,000 for a major criminal has been ordered by Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to do 220 hours' community service.
Det Sgt Pat Collins said gardai had the operation under surveillance after receiving confidential information and got a video recording of the transaction. The criminal organiser involved and another man are to face trial in due course.
John McBride (38), single, of Charlemont Street Flats, Dublin, pleaded guilty to forgery and to handling a stolen bank draft on November 15th, 1996.
Det Sgt Collins, of the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation, told prosecuting counsel, Mr Fergal Foley, the bank draft had been taken in an armed raid on the Bank of Ireland, Howth, on September 18th, 1996.
Within hours the stolen bank draft was in the hands of a top criminal. McBride would have been acquainted with this man through the bookmaker's shop in which he worked. Gardai observed him entering a late-night shop near his home where he met the other culprits and signed the bank draft.
Det Sgt Collins agreed with defence counsel, Mr Maurice Coffey, that Mr McBride was used by the others and did not enter the shop with the intention of becoming involved in the crime.
Mr Coffey submitted to Judge Dominic Lynch that his client's crime was more one of stupidity than anything else. He was not fully aware of the consequences and had not put much thought into his action, which was one of gross stupidity.