Partner in crime - woman avoids jail for theft of thousands of euro
The woman appeared at Waterford Courthouse for sentencing.
A woman has narrowly avoided a custodial sentence for stealing €20,000 from her former partner.
Tara Kelly, of Danesfield, Cappoquin, Co Waterford, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act.
The 29-year-old committed the acts between the time of December 2018 to December 2019 and January 2020 until December 2020. A third charge of theft in May 2021 was taken into consideration.
The court heard that Kelly had access to her then partner's bank account and made hundreds of financial transactions. In total, she fraudulently took €20,666 from the victim.
At her sentencing hearing, Judge O'Kelly was informed that she had raised just over €21,070 in compensation for the victim, mostly from family loans.
Judge O'Kelly spoke about the victim impact statement, outlining the financial and mental turmoil suffered by the man. The crimes left him with feelings of depression and anxiety.
Judge O'Kelly also noted that the victim was left unable to put down a deposit for a house due to the theft.
Defending barrister Tom Giles Kelly, BL, told the court that his client was cooperative with the authorities and was in employment.
Judge O'Kelly sentenced her to two years and three months, which he went on to suspend.
