Bernadette Warnock has sentencing adjourned over charity theft

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Bernadette Warnock had sentencing adjourned at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on 18 March 2016 to allow her to raise compensation. The proceedings were reported on 18 March 2016.

Warnock, 63, of Garrettstown, Dunshaughlin, Co Meath, pleaded guilty to 71 counts of theft and fraud. The offences involved €116,226 taken from Positive Action Ltd between 2009 and 2011 while she operated the Hepatitis C support charity’s finances.

Judge Melanie Greally remanded her on bail until October to raise compensation, which was to go to a new group established to replace Positive Action. The judge warned that the adjournment should not be taken as indicating a non-custodial sentence.

Defence counsel Ronan Kennedy BL said Warnock had €8,500 in court and expected an inheritance from an aunt which would cover half of the outstanding amount.

Her counsel said she was extremely sorry and had put measures in place herself in 2011 to stop her stealing more money, including instructing other committee members how to perform certain tasks.

Mr Kennedy said she had devoted a significant portion of her life to Positive Action after contracting Hepatitis C. He said the mother of four had serious health and psychiatric problems.

This report covers an earlier stage of the case. Later developments are not reported here.