Charity fraudster stole £60k from wounded veterans
ANGRY veterans have condemned a fraudster who started a charity aimed at supporting wounded ex-servicemen – only to take tens of thousands of pounds from it. James Reilly launched the Tayforth Veterans Project in Dundee amid a blaze of publicity in 2011 – with TV personality Lorraine Kelly doing the honours at the opening.
But just months later he began taking money intended to help injured military personnel.
The 66-year-old, of Balmullo, Fife, was yesterday told he faces jail after a group of veterans – some wearing their medals – attended Dundee Sheriff Court to hear him plead guilty.
Former Marine Stuart Lavery, chairman of the 45 Commando Veterans’ group, said: ‘He is a Walter Mitty character. He claims to have been in the Marines, to have served with the SBS [Special Boat Service] – but it isn’t true. He’s not entitled to wear the green beret.
‘We gave him thousands of pounds over the years. He always wanted it in cash.’
Another outraged veteran said: ‘He is a very convincing liar. He’s been lying since day one.’
Reilly – who allegedly used some of the money to buy a BMW 7 series car with personalised plates – was a project manager and trustee of the charity. But he abused that position to help himself to £60,000 of its funds.
Reilly had denied a single charge of embezzling £80,050 but yesterday admitted stealing the reduced amount of £60,000 between February 24, 2012 and October 29, 2013.
Fiscal depute Vicki Bell told the court he had no previous convictions.
Sheriff Alastair Brown, who deferred sentence until next month for reports and released Reilly on bail, said: ‘This is obviously very serious.’
Speaking at the launch of the charity in 2011, Reilly claimed to have ploughed his own cash into the venture. He said: ‘I just thought there was something needing to be done and I didn’t see any way forward other than doing it for myself. I’ve got a lot of friends who are veterans.
‘We set up the charity and got various people within the community to do things for us, from quiz nights to bingo. Once people know what you’re trying to do, they’re only too happy to help
‘We’ll also be looking for whatever funding sources we can access.’
Reilly, who was escorted from the court by police, refused to comment on the case.