Conman’s damage should not be lasting

Stealing is disgraceful in itself, but the actions of Jim Reilly, the conman who stole at least £60,000 from a veterans’ support charity are beyond disgraceful. As uniformed veterans travelled to Dundee to witness Reilly being jailed, an added dimension emerged to the destruction this evil man has caused.

And that is the possibility of further damage he may have caused to the charity he embezzled from.

Established in 2011, the charity provides support and advice for war veterans, a crucial and much valued service. There are lasting consequences for the men and women who are exposed to conflict, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder being a common result. These support networks are vital, and establishing the trust of the people they serve is an important component of the relationship.

The charity certainly does not deserve to have been ripped off by a man like Reilly, and nor does it deserve to be associated with such a person.

Equally, veterans themselves do not need to have their own trust betrayed.

At such a time, the charity itself deserves support and affirmation from the community it serves, and hopefully this has been a consequence of the unfortunate affair.

Hopefully, too, the services of this charity, and others like it, continue to be used and valued.

As for Reilly, as the veterans watching him being jailed said, “Happy holidays.”