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Founder appeals conviction for stealing from "Children to Lapland" charity
Summary
John Murphy, 69, founder of the Children to Lapland charity, was convicted of four counts of theft totalling €18,643 between June and July 2010. The charity, established in 1987, raised funds to send terminally ill children to Lapland. Murphy also ran United Travel, a travel agency that closed in 2012. At trial, he claimed the charity owed him money and that funds moved normally between accounts, a defence described by the prosecution as the 'Father Ted defence'. A jury found him guilty after 42 minutes, and Judge Pat McCartan imposed a wholly suspended three‑year sentence on 16 March 2016. Murphy has now appealed, arguing that the trial judge denied the jury the chance to consider an 'honest belief' defence and that the judge incorrectly stated no defence was available. The Court of Appeal has reserved judgment. Murphy was not present at the appeal hearing. John Murphy pleaded not guilty.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Founder appeals conviction for stealing from "Children to Lapland" charity. Charges or matters: four counts of theft from The Children to Lapland Appeal between June and July 2010 totalling €18,643. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Found guilty
When:
- July 2010 Other
- March 16, 2016 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2019-02-04 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: four counts of theft from The Children to Lapland Appeal between June and July 2010 totalling €18,643 (Proven)
Plea: Not guilty
Finding: Found guilty
Outcome: Found guilty; Murphy was found guilty by a jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court after 42 minutes of deliberations and he was subsequently given a wholly suspended three-year sentence by Judge Pat McCartan on March 16, 2016.
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