Mearns minister won’t go to jail after £31k theft

DISHONESTY: Reverend said to be ‘deeply ashamed’ after using stolen cash to pay off debts and buy new car

A Mearns minister who stole more than £31,000 from a pensioners’ fund has been left “deeply ashamed” and “deeply embarrassed” by his actions.

Debt-ridden Ronald Gall, 58, used the money to pay for his son’s medical care when he fell ill with migraines and had to undergo an operation.

When further health issues followed, the minister and his wife decided to seek private medical care.

Paying the bills placed the minister under “significant” financial pressure because the couple had no insurance policy in place to cover the costs.

Gall also used the five-figure sum to pay off a personal loan, clear credit card debt and buy a new car, but has since repaid the cash in full.

The minister of 30 years took the cash from the Cameron Fund, a trust set up to help elderly people living in Laurencekirk.

He was ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work in the community when he was sentenced yesterday at Aberdeen Sheriff Court and also had an evening curfew imposed on him as part of his punishment.

Gall, who lives in the village manse, was suspended from his position at Laurencekirk Parish Church and Aberluthnott Parish Church in Marykirk after the money went missing.

The restriction of liberty order means he will have to remain indoors at the manse between the hours of 7pm and 7am.

The cash was taken after the trust was wound down and the remainder of the money transferred into his personal account.

Gall admitted stealing a total of £31,463 between June 4, 2013 and March 20, 2015 when he appeared at Aberdeen Sheriff Court earlier this year.

The court heard Gall told the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) the fund was being wound up with money to be distributed to the beneficiaries.

Defence lawyer Gavin Anderson described the case as having a “rather unusual” background.

Gall had planned to repay the stolen money by remortgaging a flat in Edinburgh that he owned with his wife.

Mr Anderson said: “Rev Gall is deeply ashamed of this matter and is deeply embarrassed.

“He is currently suspended from his duties by the Church of Scotland pending the resolution of these proceedings.”

A spokesman for Kincardine and Deeside Presbytery said: “Now that the criminal proceedings are drawing to a close, the church can move forward with its own disciplinary process.

“The presbytery will continue to make arrangements for the support of all concerned.”

Debt-ridden Ronald Gall, 58, used some of the money to pay for his son’s private medical care.