A CARROWBROWNE man who went door to door collecting cash for what he described as a cystic fibrosis charity in Carlow was brought before Tuam District Court charged with collecting without a permit.
When Edward Francis McDonagh of Carrowbrowne halting site was ordered by Judge James Faughnan to make a €500 donation to a cystic fibrosis charity, he told the Judge “I’ll give more than that”.
The Court heard that Gardaí were made aware of McDonagh calling to houses in the Belclare area on May 2, 2025, seeking money for the charity.
When they met up with him he had already collected €245 which was seized by Gardaí.
The defendant said he was asked to raise money for the charity and he tried to get the Gardaí to speak on the phone to someone he said was organising the charity or charity event in Carlow, but they refused to engage with whoever it was. The charity in question was not identified in Court.
“I wouldn’t do it to put the money in my pocket,” McDonagh told the Judge.
When the Judge ordered him to make a €500 donation to a cystic fibrosis charity via his solicitor Gearóid Geraghty, the defendant offered to give more than €500. The Judge advised him to be careful making such an offer. He also ordered the €245 seized by Gardaí to be passed on to the same charity.
