A 35-year-old garda has been fined €2,000 for defrauding a bank out of €450 in an ATM scam.
Brendan Phillips, a former senior inter-county footballer with Sligo, pleaded guilty to five charges of deception and attempted deception at ATMs in March and April 2013.
The Dublin District Court heard the community garda in Blanchardstown disgraced himself personally and professionally, and both he and his partner have now moved to the UK.
In March and April of 2013, Phillips withdrew €170 from ATMs in Blanchardstown, Clonsilla and Clonee, but left €20 in the tray which the bank took back.
However, AIB's systems could not tell how much was taken back; an exceptional transaction was recorded and the full €170 was refunded to the garda's account.
He used the scam three times - and took €150 each time - but failed on two other occasions because the bank blocked the refunds.
When he was discovered he paid back the money, but the garda investigation proceeded.
As a community garda, the former Sligo footballer also coached football at primary and secondary school level.
He is the second garda to be convicted of the scam. Last December Raymond Geelan from Hayworth, Ongar, Dublin was fined €3,000 for defrauding the AIB of €600.
Judge Bryan Smith said Phillips made a serious error of judgement which has had catastrophic consequences for his family, social life and career.
The court was told the 35-year-old has now moved with his partner to the UK, where he earns £400 a week and that he will be dismissed from An Garda Síochána.
