A former mechanic with Dublin Bus has admitted to stealing €147 worth of diesel by syphoning it from one of the company’s own vehicles, reports The Mirror.
Daniel Byrne, 34, worked with Dublin Bus for 14 years before the theft came to light last year, the court was told on Tuesday.
Byrne, of Woodfarm Avenue, Palmerstown, south Dublin, pleaded guilty to taking 100 litres of diesel when he appeared before Judge Treasa Kelly at the city’s district court on Tuesday afternoon.
The incident occurred at the Dublin Bus depot on Conyngham Road, directly across from the Criminal Courts of Justice complex, where the case was heard, reports The Mirror.
Byrne admitted to a single count of theft involving 100 litres of diesel, valued at €147, on July 5th last year. The fuel belonged to Dublin Bus. The offence falls under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
Detective Garda Marc Kelly, based at Kilmainham Garda Station, explained to Judge Kelly that Dublin Bus conducted an internal audit in June 2024 and subsequently hired a private investigation firm that installed covert surveillance cameras at the depot from July 4 to 11, reports The Mirror.
Det Garda Kelly stated that on July 5, Byrne was seen on camera syphoning diesel from a bus and transferring it into his own personal van.
Byrne was arrested on October 24 last year, but made no statement.
Defence solicitor Patrick McGarry informed the court that Byrne had no prior convictions and had worked for Dublin Bus for 14 years before making the regrettable decision to steal. McGarry added that Byrne had lost his job and is now undergoing training to pursue other employment, reports The Mirror.
Judge Kelly acknowledged the seriousness of the case—not only due to the theft itself but also because of the breach of trust involved. She adjourned the matter to July 1 for a restorative justice report and said the case would be concluded then.
Separately, another man appeared in court facing charges of stealing diesel worth €771.75 from the same Dublin Bus depot. The court heard that Eugene Nolan, 30, of Rathleash in Portarlington, Co Laois, is currently unemployed, reports The Mirror.
Nolan is charged with three counts of stealing fuel from the Conyngham Road depot. He is accused of taking 150 litres of diesel, worth €220.50, on July 4, 2024. He faces another charge for the same quantity and value of diesel on July 8, 2024.
He also faces a charge for stealing 225 litres of diesel, worth €330.75, on July 9, 2024. All three thefts are under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001, reports The Mirror.
In addition, he is charged with knowingly handling 75 litres of stolen diesel, valued at €110.50, on June 10, 2024, at Killeen Road, Dublin 12. That charge falls under Section 17 of the same Act.
Detective Garda Kelly told the court that Nolan was arrested and charged on March 25 at Kilmainham Garda Station. He made no response to the charges after being cautioned.
The Director of Public Prosecutions has directed that the case be handled in the district court, provided there is a guilty plea. Judge Kelly adjourned the case to May 20 for either a plea or a trial date. Neither defendant spoke during Tuesday’s proceedings, reports The Mirror.
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