Councillor on probation after community fraud

Councillor on probation after community fraud

17 June 2015

A LOCAL councillor, who was this week sentenced after admitting 13 counts of fraud, has said he has “paid a very heavy price” for his actions.

Independent councillor Patrick Clarke was sentenced to 100 hours’ community service and 12 months on probation for defrauding Drumaroad Community Regeneration of £1,964 in 2010.

Clarke, who resigned from the Alliance Party when he was charged with the offences, appeared at Downpatrick District Court on Thursday and admitted eight counts of fraud by abuse of position and five counts of fraud by false representation.

Clarke took the money between May 30 and August 16, 2010, when he was chairman of the Drumaroad group and before he had been elected to Down Council.

A prosecution lawyer told the court how Drumaroad Regeneration had been formed to try to secure a community hall in the area and had received some government funding. 

When it looked like their aim would not be realised, the group was disbanded but Clarke remained in possession of the group’s chequebooks and other documents.

A director of the group noticed there was no longer any money in the group’s bank account and that nine cheques had been forged with the signatures of group members.

The amount missing from the bank account was £1,964.43, which the court heard Clarke used to pay his rent and other personal expenses.

Police were contacted about the matter and they searched Clarke’s home. They found the chequebooks and fraudulent expense reports, which had been doctored to make it look like the cheques were used for legitimate expenses for the Drumaroad group.

“He had a lot of financial issues at the time,” defence barrister Niamh McCartney said, adding that Clarke was also “binge drinking” and dealing with “mental health issues.”

She said that Clarke, who is now an independent councillor in the Newry, Mourne and Down District Council, “had previous good character.” 

 Ms McCartney said that Clarke had already paid back £1,000 of the money and would pay back the rest. She said that although Drumaroad Community Regeneration Ltd. was no longer functioning, many of the same people were now part of the Claragh Bridge Vintage Club, so the money could be repaid via that group.  

“It was fraud over a period of time on a community organisation, therefore causing a loss to the community as a whole,” District Judge Mr Alan White said.

As part of his probation, Clarke must attend an alcohol counselling programme. The judge also ordered Clarke to pay the remaining £964.43 outstanding. 

In a statement issued after the case Mr Clarke said 2015 had been an “annus horribilis” for him and his physical and mental health had suffered immensely.

“There will be many within the general public who, without the full knowledge of the actual facts and mitigating circumstances, will pass judgement and cast aspersions on the court case,” he said.

“However, I just simply ask the general public to respect and understand that I have paid a very heavy price for matters which now are in the public domain.

“I wish to take this opportunity to most sincerely thank Fr Peter Donnelly PP, of Drumaroad, for his prayers and support and to the legal, professional and personal people who gave character references and testament in my defence.

“On a personal level I am very thankful and blessed for the very close support and friendship of so many good personal friends who stood by and helped me through what has been a very difficult period in my life.

“I trust that I will be allowed to regain my strength, well-being and health to continue my duties as a councillor to do what I do best which is represent all of my constituents which I always have and will continue to do so.”