Pauline Gilhooly stole £8,000 from her dying mother but avoided jail after repaying the stolen funds through house sale inheritance.
The court threatened her with jail time if she failed to repay £8,000. She stole the money from her dying mother. Gilhooly wore diamond rings to court, and she had two months to plan repayment.
She inherited money later from selling a house she owned with her sister-in-law. She could finally repay what she owed.
Gilhooly first denied the crime and forged her mom’s signature on ten checks. She then admitted to stealing a smaller amount, £8,000, using five bad checks. An allegation was dropped that said she put money in her husband’s account.
Gilhooly admitted forging signatures to get her mother’s cash while her mother was in a care home. She paid five checks into her own bank account over four years, totaling GB8,000.
Gilhooly admitted to the crime, saying she had a “fraudulent scheme.” She presented forged checks at Santander Bank and moved money into her account.
The court delayed the sentencing because selling a property she partly owned got complex due to her sister-in-law also having a share.
The sheriff gave her time to repay. Storm Eowyn delayed things. The sheriff had warned her about jail if she could not repay.
Gilhooly returned to court with a rollator, claiming her health had declined. The sheriff approved her repayment plan.
He fined her £2,000 as punishment because she repaid the money.