Man who stole charity Christmas box from outside illuminated Donegal home sentenced

A Judge has said he is not surprised a man has received a backlash from his local community after pleading guilty to stealing a charity box containing almost €400 from a Christmas lights display.

Kyle Scanlon, aged 26, appeared at Letterkenny District Court in Co Donegal charged with theft at Gortcally, Kerrykeel on December 4th, 2021.

It followed an incident during which a donation box containing cash was taken from outside a private home of charity workers Mary and Michael Whoriskey.

Each year the couple spend weeks turning their home and its grounds into a spectacular Christmas lights wonderland for passers-by.

Donations made at the lights display has raised tens of thousands of euro over the years for various charities, including Pieta House.

This year’s chosen charity was the National Children’s Ambulance Service, Bumbleance.

Scanlon’s solicitor Patsy Gallagher said his client had suffered a case of “trial by media” since he first appeared in court.

“This is a small rural community. Donegal has a certain way of dealing with these things. His family are suffering.

“This has gone down very badly locally,” said Mr Gallagher.

Judge Raymond Finnegan replied “And so it should.”

Mr Gallagher further explained that his client had been on medication but he had mixed it with alcohol.

“He was in a certain frame of mind and he should not have been there,” added Mr Gallagher.

The court was told that Scanlon, with an address at Knockrawer, Castlefin, has 16 previous convictions, mostly for driving offences but also some for criminal damage.

A total of €398 and some sterling was taken in the robbery from the donation box.

Judge Finnegan said he was jailing Scanlon for four months but suspending the sentence for 18 months. He will not go to prison on the condition that he does not re-offend and makes a donation of €250 to the court.