Ireland Former creche manager given suspended sentence for stealing €13,000
Saira Mooneeswamy, a 53-year-old woman with an address in Dublin 7, was a manager at Hyde & Seek Childcare on Shaw Street, Dublin 2, where between 1 April 2018 and 15 July 2019 parents handed her €13,360 in cash fees that never reached the creche's bank account. An audit found that some children's payments were missing, and Mooneeswamy attended a garda station voluntarily, saying she had paid the money to someone she believed was an Ulster Bank employee. She has since repaid the entire sum and has no previous convictions. On 24 April 2024, after pleading guilty to stealing over €13,000, she was given a fully suspended one-year sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, where the judge said she had succumbed to temptation.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced24 Apr
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Saira Mooneeswamy pleaded guilty to stealing over €13,000 from Hyde & Seek Childcare.
- Where
- The theft was from Hyde & Seek Childcare on Shaw Street, Dublin 2, where Mooneeswamy was a manager.
- When
- The theft took place between 1 April 2018 and 15 July 2019.
- Cause
- Parents of one child switched from monthly direct debit to paying fees in cash, and the money never reached the creche's bank account.
- Investigation
- An audit of the creche's finances found that some children's payments were missing.
- Mooneeswamy attended a garda station voluntarily and said she had paid the money to someone she believed was an Ulster Bank employee.
- Other details
- Over 15 months, parents handed a total of €13,360 to Mooneeswamy.
- Mooneeswamy has repaid the entire sum and has been cooperative with gardaí.
- Mooneeswamy has no previous convictions.
- The court heard she was sending the money to support family members in Mauritius.
- A victim impact statement said the complainants did not want her to receive a custodial sentence.
- In court
- The judge said she had succumbed to temptation through a persistent pattern of behaviour.
- Sentence
- On 24 April 2024, she was given a fully suspended sentence of one year at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
13 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMooneeswamy pleaded guilty to stealing over €13,000 from a Hyde & Seek creche. (rte.ie)
- whereThe theft was from Hyde & Seek Childcare on Shaw Street, Dublin 2. (rte.ie)
- whenThe theft took place between 1 April 2018 and 15 July 2019. (rte.ie)
- causeParents were asked to pay fees in cash instead of by direct debit, and the money never reached the creche's bank account. (rte.ie)
- investigationAn audit of the finances found that some children's payments were missing. (rte.ie)
- courtThe judge said she had succumbed to temptation through a persistent pattern of behaviour. (rte.ie)
- sentenceShe was given a fully suspended sentence of one year at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. (rte.ie)
- otherOver 15 months, the parents handed €13,360 to Mooneeswamy, who was a manager at the facility. (rte.ie)
- otherMooneeswamy attended a garda station voluntarily and said she had paid the money to someone she believed was an Ulster Bank employee. (rte.ie)
- otherMooneeswamy has no previous convictions. (rte.ie)
- otherShe has repaid the entirety of the money and has been completely cooperative with gardaí. (rte.ie)
- otherA victim impact statement said the complainants did not wish for her to receive a custodial sentence. (rte.ie)
- otherThe court heard she was sending the money to support family members in Mauritius. (rte.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 24 Apr2024Suspended sentence for woman who stole €13k from creche
Court report of the sentencing of a former creche manager who admitted stealing over €13,000 from Hyde & Seek creche, Shaw Street, Dublin 2, with details of the offending, the audit, repayment and sentence.
convicted, Saira Mooneeswamy, 53, female, namedSaira Mooneeswamy