Sunday 1 November 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 2050Theft, submitting false documents · Co. Cork

Convicted of theft and false documents at Kinsale restaurant

Nessa Gilsenan, a 51-year-old (reports also give her age as 52) woman, was an employee of the Fishy Fishy restaurant in Kinsale, Co Cork, owned by TV chef Martin Shanahan and his wife Marie. She was charged in March 2025 with 132 offences of theft and submitting false documents relating to the staff payroll system between 2017 and 2022, with individual sums ranging from €82 to €1,650. In February 2026 she pleaded guilty to nine of those charges at the Circuit Criminal Court in Cork, where she handed over a €15,000 bank draft towards compensation and told the court she plans to sell a property to raise further funds. Sentencing was adjourned to 4 November to allow for the property sale.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Charged20 Mar
    2 reports
  4. In court1 Feb
  5. Convicted10 Feb
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Gilsenan, an employee of the Fishy Fishy restaurant, was charged with theft and submitting false documents relating to the staff payroll system.
  • The charges allege she dishonestly appropriated individual sums ranging from €82 to €1,650, totalling more than €300,000.
Where
The offences took place at the Fishy Fishy restaurant in Kinsale, Co Cork.
When
The alleged offences occurred between 2017 and 2022.
Charges
Gilsenan faced 132 charges, over 100 of them for theft, contrary to the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
In court
  • She first appeared at Kinsale District Court sitting in Bandon in March 2025, where the DPP directed a return for trial and she was remanded on bail.
  • In February 2026 she appeared at the Circuit Criminal Court in Cork and pleaded guilty to nine charges relating to theft and submitting false documents.
Sentence
Sentencing was adjourned to 4 November to allow for the sale of a property to raise compensation.
Other details
  • Gilsenan handed over a €15,000 bank draft towards compensation and plans to sell a property to raise further funds.
  • The restaurant was established by TV chef Martin Shanahan and his wife Marie.
47 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatGilsenan was charged with stealing more than €70,000 from TV chef Martin Shanahan's restaurant. (rte.ie)
  • whatNessa Gilsenan was charged with stealing more than €70,000 from Fishy Fishy restaurant (irishtimes.com)
  • whatNessa Gilsenan was an employee of the restaurant (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe charges allege theft of various sums ranging from €82 to €1,650 (irishtimes.com)
  • whatGilsenan pleaded guilty to nine charges relating to theft and submitting false documents to Shanahan. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatGilsenan admitted falsifying the staff payroll system to gain for herself in 2020, 2021 and 2022. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatIn 2017 Gilsenan dishonestly appropriated over €26,000 from the Shanahan-owned business. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatIn 2018 Gilsenan stole almost €55,000. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatIn 2019 Gilsenan dishonestly appropriated over €75,000 from her employer. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatIn 2020, 2021 and 2022 Gilsenan dishonestly appropriated over €63,000, almost €69,000 and almost €15,000 respectively. (thejournal.ie)
  • whatNessa Gilsenan pleaded guilty to stealing more than €300,000 from TV chef Martin Shanahan. (rte.ie)
  • whereThe restaurant is Fishy Fishy in Kinsale, Co Cork. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
  • whereGilsenan worked at the Fishy Fishy restaurant in Kinsale when the offences took place. (thejournal.ie)
  • whereThe restaurant is the Fishy Fishy in Kinsale, County Cork. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe charges cover a five-year period between 2017 and 2022. (rte.ie)
  • whenThe alleged offences occurred between 2017 and 2022 (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe offences occurred between 2017 and 2022. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenGilsenan was first charged in March of the previous year. (thejournal.ie)
  • whenThe offences took place between 2017 and 2022. (rte.ie)
  • chargeGilsenan faces more than 130 charges, over 100 of them for theft from the restaurant. (rte.ie)
  • chargeGilsenan also faces charges of dishonestly producing or using a misleading document when furnishing information for approval of the weekly staff payroll payment. (rte.ie)
  • chargeNessa Gilsenan faced more than 130 charges relating to theft and submitting false documents (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe charges are contrary to the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 (irishtimes.com)
  • chargeThe offences were contrary to the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001. (thejournal.ie)
  • chargeGilsenan faced 132 charges relating to theft and submitting false documents relating to the staff payroll system. (rte.ie)
  • courtGilsenan appeared at Bandon District Court and was remanded on bail. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe Director of Public Prosecutions is seeking a return for trial to the Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
  • courtGilsenan's solicitor sought a lengthy adjournment so she could consider her position. (rte.ie)
  • courtGilsenan was granted free legal aid. (rte.ie)
  • courtJudge John King remanded Gilsenan on continuing bail. (rte.ie)
  • courtGilsenan is due back before the court on 15 May. (rte.ie)
  • courtThe DPP directed that Nessa Gilsenan be returned for trial on indictment (irishtimes.com)
  • courtNessa Gilsenan was remanded on bail to appear on 15 May for service of the book of evidence (irishtimes.com)
  • courtNessa Gilsenan was granted free legal aid (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe hearing took place at Kinsale District Court sitting in Bandon before Judge John King (irishtimes.com)
  • courtGilsenan appeared before Cork Circuit Criminal Court. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtDefence counsel said Gilsenan had paid €15,000 in compensation. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtAnother compensation payment was made at an earlier court appearance. (thejournal.ie)
  • courtThe case was heard at the Circuit Criminal Court in Cork. (rte.ie)
  • courtGilsenan plans to raise compensation by selling a property. (rte.ie)
  • courtGilsenan had a €15,000 bank draft in court to be handed over towards compensation. (rte.ie)
  • sentenceThe judge remanded Gilsenan on bail for sentencing on 4 November. (thejournal.ie)
  • sentenceSentencing was adjourned until 4 November to allow for the sale of the property. (rte.ie)
  • otherGilsenan was an employee of the restaurant. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe defence asked for a lengthy adjournment to allow the sale of the property, with the proceeds going towards compensating Shanahan. (thejournal.ie)
  • otherGilsenan is 52 years old. (rte.ie)
  • otherThe individual sums stolen ranged from €82 to €1,650. (rte.ie)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 10 Feb2026
    Convictedrte.ie, first report
    Woman to sell property to raise compensation, court hears

    Court update: Gilsenan pleaded guilty, has a €15,000 bank draft towards compensation, plans to sell a property, and sentencing is adjourned to 4 November.

    convicted, Nessa Gilsenan, 52, female, named, irish (judged from name)Nessa Gilsenanvictim, Martin Shanahan, irish (judged from name)Martin Shanahan
  2. 1 Feb2026
    In courtthejournal.ie, first report
    Woman who stole €303,000 from TV chef Martin Shanahan's restaurant to sell home to repay funds

    Court appearance at Cork Circuit Criminal Court on guilty pleas to nine theft and false document charges covering 2017 to 2022. Compensation has been paid, and the defence asked for an adjournment to allow the sale of her home. Sentencing is set for 4 November.

    convicted, Nessa Gilsenan, 52, female, named, irish (judged from name)Nessa Gilsenanvictim, Martin Shanahan, irish (judged from name)Martin Shanahan
  3. 20 Mar2025
    Chargedirishtimes.com, first report
    Woman charged with stealing €70,000 from TV chef Martin Shanahan’s restaurant

    First court appearance; DPP directed trial on indictment; remanded on bail for 15 May service of book of evidence; defence sought adjournment to end of May.

    victim, Martin Shanahan, male, irish (judged from name)Martin Shanahanvictim, Marie, female, irish (judged from name)Marieaccused, Nessa Gilsenan, 51, female, named, irish (judged from name)Nessa Gilsenan
  4. 20 Mar2025
    Chargedrte.ie, follow-up
    Woman charged over €70,000 theft from Cork restaurant

    Reports the district court appearance at Bandon: more than 130 charges, over 100 of them theft, plus charges of producing false payroll documents from 2017 to 2022. Adds that the DPP seeks a return for trial, Gilsenan was granted legal aid and remanded on bail, and the next date is 15 May.

    accused, Nessa Gilsenan, 51, female, named, irish (judged from name)Nessa Gilsenanvictim, Martin Shanahan, irish (judged from name)Martin Shanahan