Payroll worker stole €135,000 from Virgin Media TV, court told

A payroll administrator at Virgin Media Television has been accused of theft of €135,000 off the broadcaster. (Stock image)

November 20 2020 02:30 AM

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A payroll administrator at Virgin Media Television has been accused of theft of €135,000 off the broadcaster.

Kellie Walton (39), of Kilfenora Road, Dublin 12, had been charged earlier with theft of €64,509 in cash, property of TV3/Virgin Media Television, on a date in 2018.

She is also accused of stealing €70,614 last year from the television company at Westgate Business Park, Ballymount, Dublin 12.

Her co-accused John Murray (39), of the same address, is accused of handling the same amounts at a Bank of Ireland branch in Dublin.

Their case was back before Dublin District Court yesterday. They did not have to attend due to the courts’ Covid precautionary measures.

Investigating detective gardaí John Tuthill and David Jennings were present and sought further time to obtain directions from the DPP.

Detective Jennings told Judge Bryan Smyth the Covid crisis had caused delays in obtaining documents from banks and companies as staff were working from home.

Luke Staines, defending, said the matter will clearly be going to the Circuit Court. He said the case commenced in March and the file was only going to the DPP now

He asked Judge Smyth to consider the jurisdiction issue in relation to the trial venue.

Judge Smyth said there was an explanation from the garda and it was reasonable due to the circumstances of the past eight months.

Detective Jennings also told the court the investigation goes back over a 10-year period of 2009 to 2019. It involved bank accounts including one in the UK.

He also described the file on the case as enormous.

Mr Staines pointed out that the charges related to 2018 and last year but accepted that perhaps other matters may be coming later.

Judge Smyth declined to impose a deadline at this stage and said it was not unreasonable for the investigating gardaí to have more time to get the directions.

He adjourned the case until January 29 next. He remanded the defendants on continuing bail in their absence.