A former Sinn Fein election candidate who embezzled £2,850 from a credit union is to be given up to four years to pay compensation. Eileen Murphy (42), of Balcurris Road, Ballymun, who stood for Sinn Fein in the 1992 general election, pleaded guilty at Dublin District Court to 14 charges of forgery, uttering and obtaining the money from Ballymun Credit Union between June 1994 and March 1995.
The court had heard how Ms Murphy was put in charge of a scheme, called Monetary Advisory and Budgetary Services, designed to help those in financial hardship. Garda David Kelly said she applied for loans under other people's names and then cashed the cheques herself.
The fraud emerged when Ms Murphy moved to another advisory services scheme in Blanchardstown and the new accountant discovered a loan had been taken out in the name of a deceased member. An audit was carried out which discovered that five accounts belonging to friends and relatives of the defendant had been tampered with.
A total of £1,865 compensation was still outstanding since the defendant made the first statement in July 1996 and the case was adjourned to yesterday for the balance to be paid.
Defence solicitor Mr John Feaheny said his client had only £40 a month disposable income to repay and it would take a long time to come up with the full amount.
Judge Catherine Murphy said it would best to remand the case at regular intervals and she remanded the defendant on continuing bail to October 28th for further compensation to be paid.