A man who dressed up as a barrister and stole cheque books from lawyers' desks in the Law Library was jailed for 11 months yesterday after failing to pay compensation.
Keith Lueders (42), no fixed address, admitted taking a number of cheque books over a six-week period and forging cheques to go on a €2,100 spending spree.
Dublin District Court heard that he stole a wig and gown in the west wing of the Four Courts, put them on and walked past security men on the door of the Law Library.
Det Garda Tony Whelan, of the Bridewell station, said that Lueders took the cheque books from unlocked drawers in desks used by barristers.
The first visits took place between December 1st 2001 and January 7th 2001, and he returned again between January 14th and 16th. He forged cheques and cashed them in banks in the city-centre and in Camden Street, obtaining a total of €2,100, which he later spent.
The court heard that Lueders had been in the Defence Forces until last year, when he left with a gratutity of about €12,000. However, he had "frittered away" all that money over a few months, his solicitor, Mr Declan Fahey, told the court.
Lueders had no previous convictions and had admitted to gardaí that he had bank accounts in Kilkenny and Newbridge, but there appeared to be nothing left in them.
Judge Gerard Haughton briefly adjourned the case to allow Lueders to discuss with his solicitor proposals for compensation. When they returned, Mr Fahey said he was not in a position to offer compensation.
Judge Haughton said that the offences were planned and took place over a period of time. He imposed a prison sentence of 11 months on all the charges.
Lueders appeared in court wearing part of a barrister's garb of wing-collared shirt and black jacket. He was arrested on January 30th and has been in custody since. The judge ordered that the 11-month sentence be backdated to then.