Northern Ireland

Co Armagh man admits abusing position within Education Authority to swindle almost £20,000

Appearing at Newry Crown Court by video-link from his solicitors office, Paul Traynor (38) entered a guilty plea
Appearing at Newry Crown Court by video-link from his solicitors office, Paul Traynor (38) entered a guilty plea Appearing at Newry Crown Court by video-link from his solicitors office, Paul Traynor (38) entered a guilty plea

A CO Armagh man has admitted abusing his position within the Education Authority (EA) to swindle almost £20,000.

Appearing at Newry Crown Court by video-link from his solicitors office, Paul Traynor (38) entered a guilty plea that on over an eight-month period, he abused his position as a payroll officer in the EA to make "bank transfers to the total value of £18,087.81"

The offences took place between April 12 and December 16 2017.

Following his admission, prosecuting counsel Geraldine McCullough asked for three similar offences to be left on the books.

Defence counsel Patrick Taggart asked for Traynor of Mullanstown Park in Armagh to be freed on bail while a pre-sentence report is completed.

He told Judge Gordon Kerr that Traynor intended to make full restitution for the money he stole and accordingly, the judge made a compensation order in favour of the EA.

Although he did free Traynor until sentencing in the New Year, the judge warned him that "isn’t any indication to what the court will do".