Former employee charged with stealing more than €70,000 from Cork restaurant owned by well known chef 

A 51-year-old woman has been charged with stealing over €70,000 from well known chef Martin Shanahan who owns the award winning Fishy Fishy restaurant in Kinsale, Co Cork.

Nessa Gilsenan of Copper Beech House, Mellifontstown, Kinsale, who was an employee of the restaurant, appeared before a sitting of Kinsale District Court in Bandon today. She faces more than 130 charges which relate to theft and the alleged submitting of false documents. 

Evidence of arrest, charge and caution was given via certificate.

More than 110 charges are for theft whilst she faces additional charges relating to false documents. 

The charges are that Ms Gilsenan did steal property, to wit various sums of money from Fishy Fishy, the property of Martin Shanahan. The various sums she allegedly stole range from €82 to €1,650.

Ms Gilsenan is also charged that she dishonestly, with the intention of making a gain for herself or another, in furnishing information for her employer, for the purpose of weekly staff payroll approval, did produce or make use of a document made or acquired for accounting purposes that was misleading, false or deceptive in a material manner. 

The alleged offences occurred between 2017 and 2022. The charges are contrary to the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

Sgt Tom Mulcahy told Judge John King that the DPP had directed that Ms Gilsenan be returned for trial on indictment. 

Adjourned

Defence solicitor Daithi O’Donnabhain asked that the case by adjourned until the end of May.

Mr O’Donnabhain is seeking certain documents from the State Solicitor. He asked for a “lengthy adjournment” to facilitate limited disclosure. 

Mr O’Donnabhain said that he had been in contact with the State Solicitor, Jerry Healy, regarding the case and needed to consider his client’s position “in totality.” 

Judge King adjourned the case until May 15 next for the service of the book of evidence. 

Mr O’Donnabhain applied for, and was granted, free legal aid for his client who had submitted a statement of means and a pay slip.

Ms Gilsenan, who wore a cream jumper and blue pants was present in court. However, she was not required to speak during the brief hearing. She was remanded on bail to appear before Kinsale District Court, sitting in Bandon, on May 15.

Fishy Fishy was established by one of Ireland’s leading seafood chefs Martin Shanahan in 2006. The restaurant has the capacity for 160 customers and is run by Mr Shanahan and his wife Marie.

Mr Shanahan embarked on his first venture in television in 2009, filming the first of a successful series of programmes, 'Martin’s Mad about Fish'. He also teamed up with chef Paul Flynn to feature in the series 'Surf ‘n’ Turf', which aired on RTÉ. 

Mr Shanahan has also written a number of successful cookery books.