Volunteer charged with stealing €1.6k from charity shop in Cork

It is claimed that the volunteer went into the National Council for the Blind of Ireland charity shop in Carrigaline after hours and stole the cash

The judge accepted jurisdiction for the case at district court level. File picture: Larry Cummins

A volunteer with the National Council for the Blind of Ireland was before Cork District Court on Monday charged with stealing €1,650 from the charity at their Carrigaline base.

51-year-old Jane Harrington appeared before the court on the single charge of theft.

A summary of the allegations in the case were outlined by Sergeant John Kelleher to see if Judge Joanne Carroll would accept jurisdiction for the case at district court level. The judge did accept jurisdiction after hearing the summary.

Defence solicitor, Michael Quinlan, said the defence was seeking a disclosure order and the judge acceded to that application. Copies of the prosecution statements will be sent to the defence.

Judge Carroll adjourned the case until November 20 so that the defence could consider if there would be a plea of guilty or if the case was to be contested.

The charge states that on June 22 at NCBI on Main Street, Carrigaline, County Cork, she entered as a trespasser and committed the arrestable offence of theft of €1,650 cash.

“On Thursday, June 22 at approximately 8.30pm, National Council for the Blind of Ireland, Carrigaline, volunteer, Jane Harrington of Lower Kilmoney Road, Carrigaline, entered the property without consent three hours after the shop was closed.

“It is alleged that Jane Harrington was observed on CCTV entering the charity shop and accessing the back room where cash was left.

“It is alleged that the defendant was seen leaving the shop carrying a bag full of items and returns moments later with an empty bag.”