An Irish beneficiary went 'wild' when she found $78k in her bank account

McDonnell said she spent the money "on everything and anything, stupid things". Photo / 123RF

An Irish woman went on a shopping spree after NZ$78,021 was mistakenly put in her bank account.

Margaret McDonnell, 23, spent the money on her children, meals and clothes over a period of two weeks.

The mistake occurred when a Bank of Ireland customer authorised a transfer.

When the money failed to arrive in his account it was discovered he had been incorrectly given the details of McDonnell's account.

Almost half of the sum was spent before the bank asked for the money back.

On discovering its mistake, the bank took back the NZ$40,995 remaining from the original deposit.

McDonnell ignored the bank's request to pay back the amount she had spent and she was subsequently arrested.

"Any young girl on welfare like me would have done what I did," McDonnell said.

"I just went on a high. It was such a lot of money. It was in my account so as far as I was concerned, it was mine."

McDonnell said she spent the money "on everything and anything, stupid things".

McDonnell of Rathvilly Park, Finglas, pleaded guilty to 13 counts of theft of cash from Bank of Ireland on dates between 7 and 16 March 2013.

After court proceedings, the single mother was only ordered to pay back NZ$1534 and over an 18-month period.

She was also ordered to carry out 150 hours of community service.