Pair caught carrying out unauthorised collection

Two young men with high-visibility vests were caught carrying out an unauthorised collection for Victory Outreach from cars near a busy roundabout and yesterday a district court judge criticised the organisation for encouraging vulnerable people to engage in such illegal collections.

Victory Outreach is an organisation with a religious background set up to encourage people with addiction problems to rehabilitate.

Denis Clowry of the New Bungalow, Pottery Rd, Belvelly, Cobh, Co Cork, and another man not before the court yesterday were seen shortly after 9am by Dunkettle roundabout near Glanmire carrying out a collection.

The two young men were wearing high-visibility vests and carrying collection buckets as they went from car to car in the lines of vehicles building up at the roundabout.

Garda John Paul Twomey approached them and asked to see their collection permits. They said this was “in the office”.

The buckets containing €119 were confiscated by the guard. Clowry pleaded guilty yesterday to carrying out a collection without a permit, contrary to the Street and House to House Collection Act. Judge O’Leary fined him €200.

The judge was concerned about whether Victory Outreach had asked the men to carry out the collection or whether they were “on a jaunt of their own”.

Insp Mary King said Gda Twomey inquired about this and “a team leader at Victory Outreach confirmed there was no collection permit in place and that the money was for a couch at the Victory Outreach centre in Cobh”.

Judge O’Leary said: “I disapprove of an organisation which proffers to support people and permits such unlawful activity.”