Daniel Cassidy, a former Sean Graham Bookies manager, was suspended for stealing £9,500 to feed his gambling addiction. Cassidy, 30, from Ferguson Street, Derry, admitted to embezzling cash from the Claudy branch in County Londonderry from September to December 2023.
Cassidy refunded £1,000 of the £10,500 stolen before facing charges. Londonderry Magistrates’ Court sentenced him to 11 months, suspended for three years, and paid £5,000 in compensation to his former employer.
Management discovered the theft after seeing cash balance irregularities in the safe and checking work schedules. Cassidy was the common factor. After failing to reach him by phone and text, officers searched his residence and found betting dockets and bank stubs proving his gambling.
Cassidy told investigators that his gambling addiction led him to steal little amounts, hoping to reimburse them with future winnings. Cassidy felt “some relief” when apprehended, and the theft was “no sophistication,” according to his defense lawyer. Cassidy apologized to his former employers and attended Gamblers’ Anonymous, the court heard.
This instance shows the dangers of gambling addiction and the need for help. Cassidy’s narrative warns against unrestrained gambling and its effects on individuals and employers.
