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Stacy Squires / Stuff
Edward James Quirke, 41, was sentenced in Christchurch District Court on Wednesday.
A man has been jailed for stealing more than $ 1.4 million from his late father-in-law’s estate and intended to support his widow.
Edward James Quirke, 41, was sentenced in Christchurch District Court on Wednesday to four and a half years in prison. His wife and co-defendant, Claire Elizabeth Quirke, 43, received 8 months of home detention. Each was ordered to repay $ 30,000.
The couple admitted to the crime in July – much of the cash was gambled.
Claire Quirke’s father, Robin Milligan, was the director of Milligans Radio 1972 Ltd and a well-known basketball referee and administrator. He died in August 2016.
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While ill, Claire Quirke was given access to her father’s bank accounts to make certain day-to-day payments.
Joseph Johnson / Stuff
Robin Milligan, director of Milligans Radio 1972 Limited and a well-known basketball referee and administrator, passed away in August 2016.
When he died, his wife, Shirley Milligan, became the sole executor and beneficiary of his estate. Term deposits on the farm and funds from the sale of a commercial property totaled about $ 1.5 million.
According to the summary of the facts, the crime began when Edward Quirke accessed the two bank accounts without authorization 92 times between August 2016 and December 2017.
In total, $ 1,403,500 was withdrawn and transferred to the Quirkes’ bank accounts. Each withdrawal ranged from $ 900 to $ 40,000.
Shirley Milligan discovered the recalls in January 2018 and reported it to the police.
Police discovered that Edward Quirke spent about $ 569,174 on gambling, $ 566,752 on money transfers, $ 128,865 on assets, and $ 121,990 on ATM withdrawals during the period.
He was convicted of four counts of theft and four counts of accessing a computer system for dishonest purposes.
Claire Quirke was convicted of theft by a person in a special relationship after receiving approximately $ 93,000 into her bank account between November 2016 and October 2017, and another $ 10,000 on December 20, 2016 from her father’s bank account.
Claire Quirke took “albeit unsuccessful and relatively fleeting steps” to avoid detection of dishonesty, the Crown said.
