A Derry woman has admitted to stealing £10,500 from the local Derry branch of Alcoholics Anonymous. Niamh Bonner (54) of Central Drive in Derry appeared at the local Crown Court today.
She was charged with one count of theft of £10,500 from Alcoholics Anonymous on dates between August 1, 2018 and November 1, 2018. She was also charged with fraud by abuse of position on dates between August 1, 2018 and December 1, 2019. When the charges were put to her she pleaded guilty to both charges.
In response to a question from Judge Neil Rafferty KC, defense counsel for Bonner, Mr Dean Mooney, told the court that the defendant had been the Treasurer of the local branch of Alcoholics Anonymous.
A Breach of Trust
Judge Rafferty said that this was a breach of trust case and as such he would need a pre-sentence report and also an assessment of the damage done to the organisation. He told Bonner she would be sentenced on November 13 and in the meantime, he released her on continuing bail.
The Impact on Alcoholics Anonymous
The theft of £10,500 from Alcoholics Anonymous is a significant loss for the organization. Alcoholics Anonymous is a non-profit organization that relies on donations to support its operations. The theft of this money will have a significant impact on the organization's ability to provide services to people struggling with addiction. The money could have been used to fund meetings, provide counseling, and support other programs. Alcoholics Anonymous is a vital resource for people struggling with addiction, and the theft of this money is a blow to the organization and the people it serves.
The Importance of Trust
The case of Niamh Bonner is a reminder of the importance of trust. Alcoholics Anonymous is a group of people who come together to support each other in their recovery from addiction. They rely on each other for support and guidance, and it is essential that they can trust each other. Bonner's actions have broken that trust, and it will take time for Alcoholics Anonymous to rebuild it. The organization will need to take steps to ensure that something like this never happens again. This could include implementing new financial controls, providing more training for volunteers, and being more careful about who they trust with sensitive information.
Moving Forward
The case of Niamh Bonner is a reminder that trust is essential in any organization, but particularly in those that rely on the support of volunteers. It is also a reminder that even those who are struggling with addiction can make mistakes. It is important to remember that people make mistakes and that we can all learn from them. Hopefully, this case will serve as a lesson to everyone involved and lead to a positive outcome for Alcoholics Anonymous in the future. The organization will need to rebuild trust and ensure that its services remain available to those who need them.
