Man pleads guilty to stealing €215,000 from Connemara shop

A 59-year-old man pleaded guilty before Galway Circuit Criminal Court this week to stealing over €215,000 from a Connemara business over a seven-year period.

Tony Knight, from 20 Dr Mannix Road, Salthill, will be sentenced in January.

He had previously entered signed pleas of guilty at Clifden District Court to sixteen sample charges of theft (totalling €51,600) from Letterfrack Country Shop, before the matter was due to be sent forward for trial to the Circuit Criminal Court in Galway.

He confirmed those pleas in the higher court this week after court registrar, Anne Marie Quinn, read the sixteen sample charges aloud to him in open court.

She informed him he was entitled to withdraw his pleas and go forward for trial if he so wished, but Knight shook his head and confirmed the pleas of guilty to stealing €1,986, €4,984, €4,640, €3,856, €3,840, €3,840, €836, €4,985, €2,305, €3,500, €3,240, €1,694, €3,250, €2,814, €2,929, €2,901, from Letterfrack Country Shop, Letterfrack, on various dates between April 16, 2013, and October 24, 2019.

Prosecuting barrister, Geri Silke, said the pleas were acceptable on a full facts basis in relation to the remaining charges on the indictment.

Defence barrister, Brendan Browne, said it had been agreed with the prosecution that the total amount involved came to €215,128.32 and that full restitution had already been made.

Judge Brian O’Callaghan directed the preparation of a probation report and remanded Knight on continuing bail to January 12 for sentence.