41-year-old Revenue official John (also known as Anthony) Kelly, who pocketed almost €20,000 from motoring fines, has been spared jail, receiving a suspended sentence instead.
Mr. Kelly worked as an executive officer with the Revenue, and he was responsible for collecting fines from motorists who had not paid Vehicle Registration Tax (VRT).
His modus operandi was to take the monies received from these motorists and keep it for himself.
It is understood that his crime unravelled when one motorist was stopped twice for not having VRT. The motorist was adamant that he had paid it, and an investigation began, which culminated in the arrest of Mr. Kelly for a plethora of similar offences.
He pleaded guilty and has now repaid some of the monies owed. The judge imposed a six year sentence for the offences, but suspended it in full for four years