THE treasurer of a secondary school parents' council in Co Louth misappropriated nearly £120,000 which had been raised by the parents to build a new school, Dundalk Circuit Criminal Court was told yesterday.
Brendan Moore (46), Beach Park, Laytown, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to 10 charges of either forging or feloniously converting cheques drawn on the account of St Mary's Diocesan School Parents' Council in Drogheda between September, 1993, and July, 1994, while he was the elected treasurer of the council. The total was £119,147.25.
Mr Eugene Winters, headmaster, told the court that the money had been accumulated over 20 years in fund raising by the parents and not a penny had been recovered. He said that in August, 1994, work had just been completed on an extension costing £1.5 million, of which the parents' council was to furnish £120,000. Mr Winters said that two years later they were £100,000 overdrawn.
He said the goodwill of the community in Drogheda and east Meath had been entrusted in the parents' council, which had had to begin fund raising again. There was a fierce sense of betrayal.
Det Sgt Patrick O'Neill, Drogheda, said the gardai got involved after Mr Winters made a complaint to them.
The cheques cashed by the defendant had his signature and that of another council officer. When interviewed, he admitted having forged the other signature or else the other officer signed the cheques innocently. He took full responsibility for his action.
Det Sgt O'Neill said the parents' council had been fund raising intensively to build a new school and in September, 1991, Moore, a management accountant, was elected to the council as treasurer. The same year, he had left employment to set up in business on his own.
The misappropriated money was routed into this company to keep it within its overdraft limits, the court was told. The defendant was an alcoholic and compulsive gambler and had paid £3,600 for a six week residential treatment course in the Rutland Centre.
The court was also told that he had attempted suicide and he had always intended to repay all the monies. He apologised to the council and his family.
Mr Brendan Grehan, counsel for Moore, said his client had secured a job with an accountancy firm and if there was to be any repayment to the council it could only be through his getting back onto the career ladder.
Judge Patrick Smith said that neither Moore nor his wife, who was working, had paid any monies to the council.
It seemed to him that Moore had decided to ride this out and make no payments and was setting a bad example to anyone who embezzled, the judge said.
He remanded the defendant in custody to Trim Circuit Court on October 15th and said that unless a very substantial five figure sum was in court on that date he would have to impose a custodial sentence.