A WOMAN who stole more than €3,000 from her young niece and nephew by raiding both their bank accounts and a piggy bank has avoided being jailed.

Nicola McFadden (29) Ballintemple, Falcarragh, previously pleaded guilty to all charges when she appeared before Judge Ciaran Liddy.

The court previously heard McFadden stole various amounts of cash at AIB bank branches in Dungloe and Letterkenny.

On another occasion McFadden stole €110 from the piggy bank of her 11-year-old niece at her home.

The court was previously told that McFadden stole the money to feed her drug habit.

She admitted stealing from the AIB accounts in the name of her niece which were under the care of their mother.

Among the charges are that on February 11, 2022 at AIB, Upper Main Street Letterkenny she stole €950 in cash (from the account of her 11 year old niece) which was Contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences Act) 2001.

On February 2, 2022 she is charged that at AIB Bank, Dungloe she did steal €650 in cash (from the account of her 11 year old niece) which was also Contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences Act) 2001.

On April 13, 2022, at AIB in Dungloe she is also charged with stealing €550 (from the account of her 1-year-old nephew) Contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences Act) 2001.

She also pleaded guilty to a series of further thefts from both the Letterkenny and Dungloe branches of AIB.

The court was told the thefts came to light when the children’s mother noticed the money missing and contacted gardaí.

Solicitor for the defendant, Patsy Gallagher, said the stolen money has all since been repaid.

A probation report had been sought by Mr Gallagher, which was produced to Judge Liddy at Monday’s Letterkenny District Court. Having read the report, Judge Liddy said he was happy to comply with the recommendations of the Proabtion Services.

On one of the theft charges, he sentenced Ms McFadden to 100 hours community service in lieu of six months in prison.

He took all the other charges into consideration.