Courts / Meath / Report
Former director of Hepatitis C charity to be jailed next month
Summary
Bernadette Warnock, 63, a former director of Positive Action Ltd, a charity that supported women who contracted Hepatitis C from contaminated blood products, was found guilty of 71 counts of theft and fraud between 2009 and 2011, stealing €116,226 from the organisation. The charity, which had 730 members and received most of its funding from the HSE, was closed in 2014 after an audit. Warnock, who herself contracted Hepatitis C at 24, pleaded guilty. The court heard she had previously forged cheques in 1990 and had been removed from the finance committee in 2011 after suspicions arose. She had hidden cheque stubs and forged the second director's signature to write cheques to herself. At sentencing, Judge Melanie Greally imposed a three‑year sentence, suspended the final 12 months, and left the decision on the allocation of the remaining €52,000 to the next hearing.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Former director of Hepatitis C charity to be jailed next month. Charges or matters: 71 counts of theft and fraud between 2009 and 2011 totalling €116,226. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- November 8 Adjournment
- 2009 and 2011 Other
- 2016-10-21 Publication
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: 71 counts of theft and fraud between 2009 and 2011 totalling €116,226 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Today Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard Warnock's health had deteriorated in recent months, leaving her house bound, and a stay was put on her sentence until November 8 to allow her attend for a hospital appointment. Judge Greally imposed a three year sentence and suspended the final 12 months.; Judge Melanie Greally had adjourned sentencing after hearing evidence in the case in March to allow Warnock gather compensation.
Places mentioned
- Today Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
- Dublin
Topics
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