‘Appalling someone would take advantage of the public in the name of a charity’
A MAN who was carrying out a bogus charity collection in a Lidl car park in Clondalkin has been remanded for a probation report by Blanchardstown District Court.
Judge David McHugh described Shane Cawley’s actions as “absolutely appalling”.
Cawley, aged 23, with an address at Palmerstown Lodge, Kennelsfort Road Lower, Palmerstown, pleaded guilty to acting as a collector and holding an unauthorised collection at the Lidl car park, Nangor Road, Clondalkin, on August 26, 2018.
The court heard that gardai encountered Cawley at 12.40pm in the car park.
He was holding a collection at a wooden table, with a plastic lunch box containing money.
The Gardai asked him what he was collecting for and he told them it was the Irish Lung Foundation.
When asked if he had a licence, Cawley produced an Irish Lung Foundation ID card, but a garda said it was clear the card was not valid as it had been “altered and doctored”.
The court heard that Cawley had no previous convictions.
Cawley’s counsel said his client had been unemployed and homeless and staying in B&Bs.
He had three children, three-month-old twins and a two-year-old.
He said Cawley, who had not attended secondary school, had no drink or drug problem.
Judge McHugh said: “From a moral, never mind a legal perspective, it is absolutely appalling that someone would take advantage of the public in the name of a charity.”
He remanded Cawley on continuing bail to a date in November for a probation report.
