Pretended tocollectfor suicidecharity

A woman has pleaded guilty to going around two Sligo pubs with a bucket pretending to collect for a suicide charity.

Brigena McDonagh of Ennell Court, Mullingar, Co Westmeath appeared before Judge Kevin Kilrane at Sligo District Court.

Inspector Donal Sweeney told Judge Kilrane that on May 13th 2016, Gardaí received a report about two people collecting money for Suicide Aware in two pubs in town.

He said McDonagh and her co- accused, Helen Joyce ( 24) had ID badges and collection buckets and claimed they had permits from the charity. However when Gardaí contacted the charity they said they had not issued any IDs that year. Gardaí seized ¤ 157 from the buckets.

Mr Tom MacSharry, defending, said McDonagh had co- operated fully and made full admissions and didn’t cause any trouble.

“She knows it’s extremely wrong. She has no fraud previous convictions. She’s very apologetic and has three young children,” he said. “I’m sorry,” McDonagh told the judge. Judge Kilrane said it was a “disgusting crime to go out and prey on families who have suffered a bereavement through suicide.”

“To go out and piggy back on Aware, which is a reputable organisation, to go out and profit from other people’s misery is shocking,” he said.

He said community service was not appropriate. He sentenced McDonagh to two months in prison, suspended for two years and fined her ¤ 100.

The judge also ordered that the ¤ 157 was to be given to Suicide Aware.