FALL FROM GRACE FOR £35, 000 CHARITY SWINDLER
Prominent campaigner’s remarkable fall from grace as he is released from prison for embezzling £35,000
A CHARITY chief who stole tens of thousands of pounds from his organisation’s coffers has been released from jail – after serving less than a quarter of the sentence.
Jamie O’Neill was once considered to be one of the country’s most promising campaigners, even giving evidence at the Scottish Parliament, but his career now lies in tatters.
A CHARITY chief who stole tens of thousands of pounds intended to help vulnerable people was jailed for 14 months – and then released after serving just a tiny portion of his sentence.
Jamie O’Neill embezzled thousands from Glasgow-based asylum seeker and refugee charity Positive Action In Housing (PAIH). O’Neill admitted taking £35,000 following a probe into the disappearance of £70,000 from the chairty.
Before his conviction, O’Neill held a prominent role in charity circles, giving evidence to a Scottish Parliament committee and rubbing shoulders with the great and the good.
In December, the 30-year-old was sentenced to 14 months in jail for the theft, which had forced PAIH to suspend food and clothing handouts.
But just over 100 days into his jail term he was released – meaning he served a day for every £330 he stole.
Last night, politicians slammed the leniency of his sentence.
Scottish Conservatives shadow justice secretary Douglas Ross said: “Stealing money from a charity is an appalling act and many people will have lost out as a result of this individual’s actions.
“Most people will think that such a shameful crime deserves a lengthy spell behind bars, rather than the few months that Mr O’Neill ended up serving.”
The theft caused PAIH bosses to suspend dishing out much-needed food and clothing to refugees living in Scotland while they investigated the missing money.
O’Neill was identified as the culprit by the charity – headed up by campaigner Robina Qureshi – with the police launching an investigation.
The inquiry into his dishonesty came to an end in November when O’Neill pleaded guilty to the crime.
Sheriff Paul Crozier sentenced him to 21 months discounted to 14 months in jail on December 15.
It was a remarkable fall from grace for O’Neill, once tipped as one of Scotland’s most promising activists and charity campaigners.
Last week, the former member of the Scottish Youth Parliament was spotted working in a mobile phone shop in Glasgow repairing broken screens and gadgets.
It is a marked contrast for the 30-yearold who 10 years previously was one of a dozen young Scots picked out to grill Microsoft tech tycoon Bill Gates as part of a Scottish Government sponsored forum.
The precocious youth – who represented Anniesland in the Youth Parliament and who cited firebrand politician Tommy Sheridan as his hero – landed a job with Glasgow-based PAIH in 2006. He was soon a trusted member of the inner circle, rubbing shoulders with its celebrity supporters, which included charity boss Robina’s Scots moviestar partner Peter Mullan.
O’Neill’s profile on professional networking web-site LinkedIn said he was the finance and admin manager for PAIH.
But the relationship soured and by 2012 O’Neill was out after the missing money was discovered.
The theft is believed to have happened over two years. Despite police being called in to investigate, O’Neill was able to land a job with another charity.
He became the Youth Network Officer of controversial anti-abuse charity Roshni, set up to protect vulnerable adults and children within ethnic minorities.
As a self-styled expert on ethnic minorities for publicly financed Roshni, O’Neill would frequently be called to explain issues at Holyrood.
His last appearance in front of the Scottish Parliament’s equal opportunities committee was just weeks before he was jailed.
By that time he was the projects manager of Roshni.
In September, we revealed how the Glasgow-based organisation – which received more than £300,000 in public grants – had been ordered to hand over £115,000 when a tribunal found a female employee was suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder after she was extensively bullied there.
In the lead-up to the employment tribunal decision, it’s been claimed vast sums of money were transferred from Roshni’s accounts to various members of staff – including O’Neill. The unnamed woman’s legal team said O’Neill received £5300 days before the damning judgment.
It is understood the charity has never handed over a penny to the woman and is now shut.
Last week, our calls to its Glasgow HQ went unanswered.
Last night, a charity insider said: “O’Neill’s conviction has been the talk of Scotland’s charity industry.
“He was seen as the rising star comfortably rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous... now he’s working in a phone shop.
“It’s incredible that he served such a light sentence after what he did. Bosses at PAIH have been in pieces about O’Neill’s actions.
“They can’t believe he did it to them, especially with the people they help.”
Charity campaigner and author David Craig said the third sector industry could be a magnet for fraudsters because it was run “by those who see the best in people”.
He said: “People looking to make a fast buck can often be attracted to charities because they are seen as being run by well-meaning folk who aren’t on their guard that some people are simply out to rip them off.
“It’s helped by the fact the regulator, OSCR, is often unable to take action.”
In 2012, cops were called in after PAIH bosses noticed thousands of pounds had disappeared.
The missing money was recovered through insurance. It is understood O’Neill has not handed over a penny.
PAIH hit the headlines when it campaigned to prevent dawn raids on the homes of failed asylum seekers whom the Government is trying to deport.
Last night, PAIH boss Robina Qureshi couldn’t be contacted, but a spokesman for the charity said: “We are pleased this matter from more than five years ago is resolved.
“Our internal controls caught the problem quickly, and we are grateful to Police Scotland for acting so promptly and helpfully.”
When confronted, O’Neill insisted to The Sunday Post he is still a “prominent charity activist” after leaving jail.
He said: “I pleaded guilty to embezzling £35k in order to move on with my life following a five-year investigation. I don’t regret helping some of the most vulnerable people in Scotland and will continue to campaign and offer assistance where I can. People who know me, know the whole story.”