by Andrew Carey
FUNDING for a project diverting marginalised young offenders away from criminality was seriously jeopardised after an administrator was caught stealing thousands of euro.
Martina Keane (40) of Glendale Lawn, Old Singland Road, Limerick was arrested after a complaint was made about financial irregularities at the Southill Youth Outreach Project where she worked as the office administrator.
Based in the Garryowen Industrial Estate, the project, which caters for up to 80 youths a year, assists the reintegration of marginalised youths and young offenders who are trying to be diverted away from a life of crime.
Ms Keane, the project’s administrator responsible for payroll, petty cash payments and banking, pleaded guilty to a number of sample charges before Limerick Circuit court relating to the theft of over €13,000.
The court heard that in 2011, Siobhan Abbott was appointed as project manager and found that certain records and paper trails relating to the financial administration of the project.
When confronted about questionable payments, pension contributions and missing invoices, Ms Keane admitted the thefts.
Ms Abbott said that the discovery of the thefts raised questions with authorities over the “perceived lack of governance” of the project if an administrator was able to steal money.
Ms Abbott said that Government funding was cut and the project was unable to provide certain activities and “jeopardised future funding at the time”.
The court heard that the married mother of four told gardai and the board of management that times became hard and she subsequently became reliant on the money she was regularly taking from the project which she said became “easy to take after the first one”.
Ms Keane said that she was “glad” the day came when she was confronted and owned up to the thefts. She subsequently left her position with the project due to illness.
The court heard that Ms Keane had secured a new job and had amounted €2,500 in compensation and said that she wanted to repay the amount in full.
Judge O’Donnell adjourned the case to October 5 next but said that he was making “no guarantees”.
