Kinsale woman who stole from TV chef via payroll offers compo.

BY OLIVIA KELLEHER

A 52-YEAR-OLD woman who stole more than €300,000 from TV chef Martin Shanahan is to sell her home in order to raise compensation money, a court has hard.

Nessa Gilsenan of Copper Beech House, Mellifontstown, Kinsale, appeared before Cork Circuit Criminal Court on Tuesday.

She previously pleaded guilty to nine charges which related to theft and the submitting of false documents to Mr Shanahan.

Ms Gilsenan was an employee of the award-winning Fishy Fishy restaurant in Kinsale at the time of the offences which occurred on dates between 2017 and 2022.

She admitted falsifying the staff payroll system to make a €303,000 gain for herself in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

In 2017 she dishonestly appropriated in excess of €26,000 from the Shanahan-owned business.

The following year she stole almost €55,000 whilst in 2019 Gilsenan dishonestly appropriated over €75,000 from her employer.

In 2020, 2021 and 2022 she dishonestly appropriated over €63,000, almost €69,000 and almost €15,000 respectively.

All of the charges refer to the period from January 1st to December 31st of each calendar year.

The offences were contrary to the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

Ms Gilsenan was first charged in relation to the offences in March of last year.

On Tuesday defence counsel Donal O’Sullivan (SC) told Judge Helen Boyle that he had received €15,000 in compensation money from his client.

A further compensation amount was paid by Ms Gilsenan at a previous court appearance.

Mr O’Sullivan asked for a lengthy adjournment in the case to allow for the sale of the property.

Monies earned from the sale will go towards compensating Mr Shanahan, the court heard.

The judge remanded Ms Gilsenan on bail for sentencing on November 4th next when the full facts of the case will be outlined.

The hearing is expected to last in the region of an hour, Judge Boyle was told.

Fishy Fishy at Crowley’s Quay in Kinsale was established over 20 years ago by TV chef Martin Shanahan and his wife Marie.

The restaurant has won many awards for its use of local seafood.

Mr Shananan is one of Ireland’s leading seafood chefs. His cookery programme Mad about Fish first featured on RTE in 2009.

It was a ratings success and best-selling cookery books and further TV series including Surf ‘n’ Turf with Paul Flynn followed.