Former Dublin Pride financial director, John Finucane has avoided jail time after he stole over €10,000 from the organisation.

Finucane, 35, pleaded guilty to a number of counts of stealing cash from the Dublin Pride festival organisers between October 29, 2011 and December 11, 2011. He was given a three-year suspended sentence at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court this week.

While working for the organisation on a voluntary basis, Finucane had access to two credit cards. Over the course of nine weeks, he made unauthorised payments on these cards to the sum of €10,403.

Judge Mary Ellen Ring said Finucane had taken advantage Dublin Pride, which relies on the support of donations. She said, “It was badly-needed money for an organisation that does work that is needed in the community.”

It is reported that Finucane used the stolen money to “rain gifts” on family and friends. He told gardaí in October that he used the cards to pay for hotel rooms for himself and his partner, Christmas presents, flowers for his partner’s mother and to pay into nightclubs.

Finucane told gardaí that he had been planning to take his own life and was expecting that a payment, upon his death, would reimburse Dublin Pride for the stolen money.

“He had made a decision on what he was going to do with his life and had decided to rain gifts on people,” said the defending, Lorcan Staines BL.

Judge Ring ruled that Finucane had medical issues that were better treated outside of prison.

John Finucane has eight previous convictions, seven of which are in the UK.