A night porter working in a four star hotel in Monaghan Town was caught stealing €1800.
Monaghan District Court heard this week that the theft from the safe at the Hillgrove Hotel was to feed the man's gambling and drug addiction.
24-year-old Jakub Warcholik of Beechgrove Lawns, Monaghan, pleaded guilty to two counts of theft which occurred on May 23rd and June 9th last year.
Mr Warcholik stole €1,000 in cash on the first occasion followed by a further €800 just over two weeks later. He appeared before Judge Raymond Finnegan to hand over all €1,800 in compensation with the judge saying that he was in a trusted position while he worked at the hotel.
In defence, solicitor Niall Fox said his client made the "foolish decision" to steal from his former employer while struggling to fund a gambling addiction and pay off drug debts.
Mr Fox revealed how Warcholik was now clean from drugs and back in gainful employment with a leading building materials company following losing his job at the hotel.
The court was told he had no previous convictions to his name. Judge Finnegan consequently remanded Warcholik on continuing bail to a sitting of Monaghan District Court on June 15th for the preparation of a probation and community service report.
