Ex-employee charged with stealing over €70,000 from award-winning Cork restaurant

Olivia Kelleher

A 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 (51), of Copper Beech House, Mellifontstown, Kinsale, who was an employee of the restaurant, appeared before a sitting of Kinsale District Court in Bandon on Thursday.

She faces over 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 while she faces additional charges relating to false documents. The various sums she allegedly stole ranged from €82 to €1,650.

Sgt Tom Mulcahy told Judge John King the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that Ms Gilsenan be returned for trial on indictment. 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 15th 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 15th.

Fishy Fishy restaurant was established by Mr Shanahan, one of Ireland’s leading seafood chefs, in 2006. The restaurant has 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.