Ex-priest turned charity worker is struck off for stealing £32k
‘Financial guardian’ took residents’cash
A former priest who embezzled almost £32,000 from vulnerable residents at a Paisley charity has been struck off by the care watchdog.
Kevin Cassidy targeted five adults at MacFarlane Trust residential care facilities, in Paisley and Elderslie, by emptying their bank accounts of cash over a five-year period.
Cassidy, of Paisley, was called before the Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC), which ruled he had to be struck off from his role as a ‘financial guardian’ after abusing his position of trust.
In a written ruling, the SSSC said: “Your conviction for embezzlement is extremely serious, relating to the taking of monies from residents of the care services that you managed at the time.
“Your behaviour took place over an extended period of time and the embezzlement amounted to a substantial amount of money.
“This was prolonged financial abuse and exploitation, using your position and the residents’ vulnerability for your own personal gain.
“The majority of your victims were not capable of understanding what you had done.
“They had the right to trust you and expect you to protect them from harm.
“Your behaviour in your professional role had the opposite impact, causing serious and long-term financial harm to all of them.
“The SSSC considers that a removal order is the most appropriate sanction as it is both necessary and justified in the public interest and to maintain the continuing trust and confidence in the social service profession and the SSSC as the regulator of the profession.”
The 48-year-old spent six years in the seminary before serving as a priest at three parishes in Paisley.
He joined the charity in 2001 as a financial guardian for the adult residents, who have severe learning disabilities.
Cassidy, of Stock Avenue, Paisley, pleaded guilty to embezzling £31,971 from the MacFarlane Trust between June 25, 2012, and August 2, 2017.
The thefts came to light after he used a resident’s bank card while on holiday in Wales to withdraw £200, which triggered an inquiry by his bosses.
He later admitted he had been withdrawing cash from residents’ accounts to pay for his drinking problem.
Cassidy was handed two-years mandatory supervision as an alternative to custody and ordered to perform 300 hours of unpaid work – the maximum amount – over 15 months.
He was also ordered to repay the trust at £500 a month.
The MacFarlane Trust is a charity established in 1995, offering support and accommodation for adults with a learning disability across Renfrewshire.
The majority of your victims were not capable of understanding what you had done