A house-cleaner who stole more than 40 cheques to the value of €5,500 from her elderly employers has been fined €500.
Pauline Sheerin (26), Castledaly, Moate, Co Westmeath, has also been ordered to pay €2,000 to the employers, who say they treated her "like one of the family".
Ms Sheerin's thefts emerged when a cheque she forged was found in the car park of the Bank of Ireland in Athlone.
Ms Sheerin pleaded guilty at Mullingar District Court last January to stealing and forging the cheques over 16 months in 2003 and 2004. Judge John Neilan imposed the fine yesterday after a number of adjournments during the year.
The court heard she stole the cheques from her employers, Mr and Mrs Alvin Kirshner, a couple in their 80s, who live close to the Hill of Uisneach at Streamstown, Co Westmeath. Ms Sheerin, a single woman who lives with her parents, forged Mrs Kirshner's signature on the cheques.
Mr Kirshner said she treated her "like I would treat my own daughters". Ms Sheerin admitted the offences when interviewed by gardaí, and presented a cheque for €7,000 compensation.
Her solicitor, Fiona Hunt, told the court in January that Ms Sheerin had not spent the money, but had a grievance about her work.