Gullible people being conned - Judge

A woman was fined for standing on Castle St holding a red bucket and the Big Issue without a permit. Brigena McDonagh, with an address at Ennell Court, Mullingar was charged with holding a collection without a permit.

A second charge of acting as a collector without collector’s authorisation was struck out. Sergeant Derek Butler told the court that on June 9 th 2018 gardaí observed the defendant holding a red bucket and a copy of the big issue outside the Post Office.

They asked her if she had a permit as the Northwest Hospice were holding a collection on the same day and were the only one with a permit. The defendant had a previous conviction for holding a collection without a permit.

Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor (defending) said his client was a separated mother of three and that she volunteered herself to give the money, which was a small amount of €5, to the Hospice from her collection. Mr McGovern said McDonagh was going through a financially difficult time maintaining her young children.

Judge Kevin Kilrane said she was out there with a high visibility jacket holding a bucket with well intentioned people putting money into the bucket.

He said with these type of charity business gullible people are being conned with illegal collections or half illegal collections. He said he recently saw an advert for adopting an elephant on television and said these scams are unbelievable as people are being conned out of their money. He said McDonagh had a conviction from 2017 and was at it again. He said it was a scam of conspiracy with a number of people and that this lady was a cog in the wheel, he added. He fined her €200 and told her that if happens again she will be going to prison.