A DUBLIN man yesterday pleaded guilty to stealing more than £21,000 worth of computer chips from his employers in an effort to pay some of his debts.
William Treacy (20), Glendhu Park, Navan Road, Dublin, admitted stealing 113 chips from Gateway 2000, of Clonshaugh industrial estate.
Del Garda Niall Jones told the court that between June 1st and 21st, the defendant took the chips and hid them in his locker and desk. He then placed them in a box and addressed the package to his house.
The package was monitored by the company and after its delivery gardai searched Treacy's house and recovered the chips.
Counsel for Treacy told the court his client had fully co operated with the Garda. The crime, he said, was a "half baked" attempt designed to pay debts relating to a new moped his client had bought.
The court was told Treacy had no previous convictions and had once caught a man attempting to steal a girl's purse. A syringe was produced but he had held the attacker until gardai arrived.
Judge William Earley said the case involved a "premeditated crime" which involved a serious breach of trust.
He remanded Treacy until November 21st pending a probation report.