Donegal woman who stole over €3,000 from nieces avoids jail

A Donegal woman who stole more than €3,000 from her young nieces when she raided both their bank accounts and piggy bank has avoided going to jail.

Nicola McFadden appeared before Letterkenny District Court facing a number of theft charges.

The 29-year-old had previously pleaded guilty to all charges when she appeared before Judge Ciaran Liddy.

The court was told that McFadden stole from a number of banks across Donegal to feed her drug habit.

The court was told that Ms McFadden, a mother-of-four from Ballintemple, Falcarragh, stole various amounts of cash at AIB bank branches in Dungloe and Letterkenny.

On another occasion, McFadden stole €110 from the piggy bank of her 11-year-old niece at her home.

She admittedto  stealing from the AIB accounts in the name of her niece which were under the care of their mother.

Among the charges are that on February 11, 2022 at AIB, Upper Main Street Letterkenny, she stole €950 in cash (from the account of her 11-year-old niece), which was Contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences Act) 2001.

On February 2, 2022, she is charged that at AIB Bank, Dungloe she did steal €650 in cash (from the account of her 11-year-old niece), which was also Contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences Act) 2001.

On April 13, 2022, at AIB in Dungloe is also charged with stealing €550 (from the account of her 1-year-old nephew) Contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences Act) 2001.

She also pleaded guilty to a series of further thefts from both the Letterkenny and Dungloe branches of AIB.

The court was told the thefts came to light when the children's mother noticed the money missing and contacted gardai.

Solicitor for the accused woman, Mr Patsy Gallagher, said the stolen money had all since been repaid.

He said that Ms McFadden's family had "stepped in" in a bid to support her and had accompanied her to court.

However, he stressed that Ms McFadden's family did not request that the charges be dropped, saying she had to make atonement for the offences before the court.

He said that his client was suffering from a drug issue but that she had started treatment for her addiction, even though the treatment was only in its infancy.

Mr Gallagher suggested that the case be adjourned until next year to allow for a Probation Report to be compiled.

Judge Liddy noted that the stolen cash had been repaid and ordered a Probation Report in the case.

A full report was carried out on the accused and it was handed into court for review by Judge Liddy.

The Judge said, having read the report, he is happy to go along with the recommendations of the Probation Services.

On one of the theft charges, he sentenced Ms McFadden to 100 hours of community service in lieu of six months in prison.

He took all the other charges into consideration.