Davy Fitz's son avoids jail time for stealing €35k

Colm, 28, grabbed wads of cash to fuel gambling addiction

- BY DAVID RALEIGH

A SON of hurling manager Davy Fitzgerald has been given a suspended sentence after he admitted stealing €35,000.

Colm Fitzgerald, 28, stole the money while employed to be in charge of cash at a counter at Bank of Ireland, Shannon Industrial Estate, Co Clare.

Fitzgerald, who resigned from the bank after the thefts were discovered during an internal audit, told the bank and Gardai he stole the cash to sustain a gambling addiction.

Barrister, Kenny Kerins, told Ennis Circuit Criminal Court that "steeped in GAA" Fitzgerald, had paid all of the money back with the support and assistance of his family.

Mr Keirns said Fitzgerald was caught in a "serious" grip of addiction to sports gambling and that he had "expressed relief" when the thefts were discovered.