Rachel Kenny, a 29-year-old employee of Milk Thistle restaurant, was sentenced to one year in prison for a severe breach of trust. She admitted to embezzling €55,000 over 81 incidents spanning 18 months. Her thefts caused the restaurant’s bank balance to plummet, sharply contrasting her role in the business. The sentence, initially five years, was reduced due to mitigating factors like her guilty plea and expressed remorse. Discover more about how her actions unfolded.
Rachel Kenny, a 29-year-old employee at the Milk Thistle restaurant, has been sentenced to one year in prison after pleading guilty to theft charges at Limerick Circuit Criminal Court. Kenny admitted to ten sample counts of theft, which occurred over an 18-month period and involved 81 incidents. Her actions exploited the cash online register system, allowing her to embezzle approximately €150 weekly. These trust violations resulted in the restaurant’s owners being forced to sell the establishment due to the financial strain.
The case unfolded when Denis Cregan, the restaurant owner, observed an unexpected decline in business turnover. Initially attributing the downturn to rising energy costs, further scrutiny by accountants revealed significant inconsistencies. This prompted an investigation, uncovering internal theft. Quality CCTV footage identified Kenny’s fraudulent activities, with a notable discrepancy in recorded gift voucher redemptions compared to actual sales.
Financial repercussions were severe, with the restaurant’s bank balance plunging from €149,000 in 2020 to €69,000 in 2022. The estimated loss attributed to the theft was approximately €55,000, not solely due to Kenny’s actions. Gift voucher redemptions in 2022 amounted to €31,689.87, starkly contrasting with €5,305 in actual sales. The thefts, while individually modest, collectively dealt a significant blow to the struggling business, emphasizing the critical nature of employee ethics.
During sentencing, Judge Colin Daly highlighted the breach of trust as a pivotal factor. Although the maximum sentence for each count of theft could reach ten years, a five-year headline sentence was initially considered. This was reduced to three years, with two years suspended, acknowledging mitigating factors such as Kenny’s guilty plea, expressed remorse, and absence of prior convictions. The judge underscored the financial gain and betrayal inherent in Kenny’s actions.
Kenny expressed remorse for her actions, feeling the weight of the criminal proceedings. Her relationship with the restaurant owners was described as close, akin to family, further complicating the breach of trust. Currently working at another restaurant, Kenny is attempting to rebuild her life, having accepted full responsibility for her misconduct without evidence of a lavish lifestyle.
