Adrian Robert McLaughlin, a 50-year-old former minister from Church Avenue in Dunmurry, has been found guilty by a jury of defrauding his church and a parishioner. He faces the possibility of jail time next week.
The jury delivered its verdict at Belfast Crown Court, convicting McLaughlin of two counts of fraud by abuse of position. During a trial held at Craigavon Crown Court in June, it was revealed that he defrauded St Coleman’s Parish Church of £10,000 between October 15 and November 30, 2016.
McLaughlin, who is a father of two, was found guilty of writing a cheque from the church’s bank account to himself without the required authorization from the treasurer or Church Vestry. Additionally, he was convicted of making a £1,000 cheque, intended for the church from a grieving parishioner, payable to himself during the period of September 24 to October 31, 2016.
Despite the jury’s guilty verdicts, McLaughlin maintains his innocence regarding the two charges.
On Friday, McLaughlin appeared in court for final submissions before Judge Patrick Lynch KC. Crown prosecutor Joseph Murphy informed the court that McLaughlin had given “inaccurate” information to a probation officer who prepared a pre-sentence report. This included discrepancies about his ministerial salary from 2019 to 2024. Murphy also noted that McLaughlin had made allegations against another individual concerning a non-contact offence, suggesting these were intended to garner sympathy from the court ahead of sentencing.
Defence barrister Richard McConkey addressed the judge, highlighting the significant impact a prison sentence would have on McLaughlin’s two teenage children, who are in his sole custody. He argued that McLaughlin was a person of previously good character, with no prior criminal record before this case, and that probation assessed him as having a low risk of re-offending. McConkey also pointed to the “inordinate delay” in the proceedings, urging Judge Lynch to consider mercy when imposing a sentence.
After considering the arguments from both sides, Judge Lynch indicated that he would deliver McLaughlin’s sentence next Tuesday. Before allowing him to leave the dock, the judge advised McLaughlin to prepare for the possibility of incarceration.
