Fraud Principal to discover sentence today

 

A local school principal who defrauded more than €200,000, which he spent on lavish weekend breaks and expensive golf equipment, will have his sentencing finalised before Cavan Circuit Court later today.

Finbarr Boyle - also known as Fionbar O Baoill (35) - of Annalee Manor, Ballyhaise, Co Cavan had his case adjourned from last year to allow further time to pay back €25,000 of the money stolen.

He previously pleaded guilty to seven sample counts of theft and forgery amounting to more than €77,000 between November 2009 and February 2011.

Boyle had been principal of St Patrick's National School in Kilnaleck, Co Cavan, from 2005.

As school principal Boyle cancelled the school's meal programme for kids in 2008 by claiming a Department of Social Protection grant had been stopped. However, the money had not stopped, and the Donegal-native instead stole the money.

Cavan Circuit Court heard Boyle also spent €66,000 on a school credit card.

It was heard Boyle would spend the cash on weekend breaks in London, Dublin and Galway, golfing trips to Spain, as well as to pay his mortgage and household bills.

His arrest came following a two-year investigation into the fraud after a new treasurer was appointed to the Board of Management at the school and began questioning school spending.