‘Terrible breach of trust over period of time’
‘HE should be jumping through hoops and doing everything the probation service wants him to,’ a judge has remarked when reviewing the case of 36-year-old man who stole almost €600 from his employer over a six-week period.
Judge McKiernan said the defendant, Paul McCallion, 14 Mariners Court, Blackrock, had decided not to engage with the recommendations of the probation service which was a pity.
His solicitor Barry Callan submitted that a probation report was ‘very positive in most aspects’.
His client was not willing to go back to Turas counselling service because he had commenced a 12-step programme which required quite a lot of work.
The judge said McCallion couldn’t have it every way. She didn’t know what he was doing, but he should be jumping through hoops and doing everything the probation service wanted him to.
Mr Callan asked that his client be given one more chance.
When Judge McKiernan said he had declined the recommendations, the solicitor replied that the defendant had made considerable progress.
‘I’m not satisfied. He has not followed the directions in relation to Turas counselling,’ the judge remarked.
All the money had been paid back, but it was a ‘ very serious matter’.
The case was further adjourned to 3 March, 2021.
Last November Paul McCallion pleaded guilty to a total of 18 theft and trespass charges, offences which occurred between 24 August and 4 October, 2018 at Belle’s Tea Rooms, Main Street, Blackrock, where he worked as a cook and was a keyholder.
The thefts occurred after hours when the premises were closed. He took money from the till and tips’ jar, approximately €595 in all.
The matter came to light when the owner got suspicious and viewed CCTV footage.
At that hearing last year the defendant came to court with €600 compensation, and Mr Callan said alcoholism was at the root of all of the offending.
Judge McKiernan said it was ‘a terrible breach of trust over a period of time’.