Enniskillen Court House
AN ENNISKILLEN man who used his new boss’s credit card details to gamble online has been ordered to carry out community service.
Christopher Hannigan (28) of Derrin Park appeared at Enniskillen Magistrates Court last Wednesday where he pleaded guilty to fraud by false representation.
On May 5 last police received a report that £250 had been taken from the bank account of Barry Steele and transferred to Ladbrokes online betting site.
Mr Steele contacted his bank and the transaction was cancelled and the money was returned, at a loss to the bank.
It was suspected it was Hannigan, who had only recently started working for Mr Steele and who had not shown up to work for the previous two days, who had transferred the money. When confronted, Hannigan admitted it was him.
Defence solicitor Garry Smith explained that on Hannigan’s first week working for Mr Steele, his new boss had handed him his phone, and the credit card was inside the phone’s cover.
Hannigan took note of the card details then used them online. The solicitor said it was a one off incident.
Mr Smith said Hannigan had lost the chance of a job due to the incident, which he said took place “against a backdrop of his struggling addiction.”
District Judge Nigel Broderick said it had been “a nasty offence” as it involved breaching the trust of someone who had given Hannigan a job.
Judge Broderick said the offence warranted a custodial sentence, but said he felt Hannigan could “give something back” instead.
He sentenced the defendant to 200 hours community service, and ordered him to pay compensation of £250 to the bank.
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