EX-SCHOOL PRINCIPAL STOLE €93K TO FEED HIS GAMBLING ADDICTION

Suspended sentence over a 'spectacular breach of trust'

- DAVID RALEIGH

 A FORMER principal who stole almost €100,000 from a school's accounts to feed his chronic gambling addiction was given a suspended sentence.

Stephen Condon admitted stealing €93,000 from St John the Baptist National School, Garryowen, Limerick, in a "spectacular breach of trust", the sentencing judge said.

The thefts were discovered in 2016 when the school board became suspicious that money was missing and a full audit of accounts was carried out.

Condon, 43, immediately admitted misappropriating the funds to feed his gambling addiction,  which had "spiralled out of control".