Michael McArdle, 37, from Longford, was allegedly consuming 150 sleeping pills a day and was drunk 90% of the time during an eight-week period when he committed a €113,000 fraud against Viking Direct. He pleaded guilty to 35 charges of theft and one charge of unauthorized use of a computer.
A Longford man and "colourful character" was allegedly consuming 150 sleeping pills a day and was drunk "90 per cent of the time" when, over an eight-week period, he "perpetrated a significantly, sophisticated" €113,000 fraud against a UK-based office supply company, a court has heard.
READ MORE: Chloe Ferris: ‘The heavens are in tears’ for woman who died at Irish nightclub, funeral told Detective Lee explained a direct debit mandate was submitted to Viking Direct and the funds were first transferred to an escrow account and then to a Permanent TSB account in the name of Anne McArdle, 77, the accused's mother, who had no part in any of the offences.
Judge Eoin Garavan said he was "amazed" McArdle was able to obtain the payments and Detective Lee agreed it was "pure luck" and appeared to be an oversight on Viking Direct's part. However, Detective Lee said the thefts required "forethought" and that the accused is a "very intelligent man". Defence barrister, Niall Flynn BL, told the court his client was sent forward to the circuit court on a signed plea of guilty from the district court and has not come to Garda attention since the 2018 offences. "He says he is truly sorry and he will never do this again", he added.
Judge Garavan said it was being put to the court that McArdle committed a "significantly sophisticated fraud" at a time when he had serious addiction and mental health issues. "He was drunk 90 per cent of the time. He was certainly putting the other 10 per cent to good use", the judge added.
Crime Fraud Theft Longford Michael Mcardle Viking Direct
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