A 24-year-old man who pretended to collect money for a charity walk — when in fact he was collecting the money so he could buy alcohol — was before Ballina District Court this week for a “mean type of crime”, making gain and causing loss by deception.
Inspector Joe Doherty outlined that on September 28 2011 at 4pm a report was made to gardaí in Ballina regarding suspicious activities of men who were collecting money in the Bohernasup area.
Gardaí located the men, one was Martin Lawrence, 156 Greenhills Estate, Ballina. The defendant admitted he had gone to Ballina Library to use the computer, where he made up a fake sponsorship card for a fake walk which he was take part in, all in aid of Parkside Youth Club. Altogether €17 was collected.
Solicitor for Lawrence, John Gordon said the single, unemployed man, who has 10 previous convictions, had been to prison before and was “fairly afraid” of going back again. Mr Gordon said his client got the idea to collect the money as he had taken part in a charity walk some years ago. The money has been refunded. The solicitor said his client had a limited education and an issue with alcohol.
Judge Mary Devins said: “You say your client has limited education yet he is obviously computer literate.” The judge said Lawrence was in receipt of €188 a week from the State and his only outgoing is rent, “which I have my doubts about”, at €50 a week, “so he has €130 a week to spend on alcohol and as we all know alcohol is dirt cheap at the moment”. The judge added, “Yet he went to defraud people to buy more alcohol.”
Judge Devins asked the defendant how much he spends on alcohol. Lawrence replied €90. “So the Department of Social Protection gives you money to pour into your body”, In fact, “we all give you money... anybody who pays taxes” and “when you run out, you just steal the rest”.
Inspector Doherty said it was a “very mean type of crime”, which would “annoy people”.
Judge Devins said there was “nothing fine or decent or honourable about this man” who is “defrauding the State”.
Lawrence was remanded on continuing bail to January 24 for a community service assessment report, where if found suitable, he would undertake a total of 200 hours of community service in lieu of six months in prison.
