73-year-old Co Antrim man jailed after stealing more than £200,000 from charity supporting separated families

A Co Antrim man who stole more than £200,000 from a Belfast charity that helped children maintain contact with separated parents has been sentenced to prison.

Robert Moore, 73, from Newtownabbey, admitted seven fraud-related offences after abusing his position as treasurer of Central Belfast Contact Centre over a period spanning more than 12 years.

The offences, which took place between December 2009 and January 2022, saw Moore fraudulently write cheques to himself, depriving the organisation of funds that had been intended to support vulnerable families and children using the service.

He was sentenced on Tuesday, June 30, to a total of 18 months imprisonment.

Charity lost more than £206,000 over 12 years

Moore pleaded guilty to four counts of forgery, two counts of false accounting and one count of fraud by abuse of position.

The prosecution estimated that the total amount taken from the Belfast-based charity was £206,647.96.

Central Belfast Contact Centre had provided a safe and neutral environment for children from separated families to spend time with one or both parents, and in some cases other relatives, for more than two decades.

Police said the scale and duration of the fraud represented a significant breach of trust and had consequences far beyond the financial losses involved.

Fraud uncovered after concerns raised in 2022

The offending only came to light in 2022 when concerns were raised about the management of the charity’s finances.

According to police, Moore disclosed to another trustee that he had withdrawn money from the organisation’s account, prompting further scrutiny of the charity’s financial records.

A subsequent police investigation uncovered evidence that substantial sums had been fraudulently removed from the charity over a number of years.

Detective Sergeant Adams said the impact of crimes against charitable organisations could be particularly severe because of the services they provide to local communities.

“This charitable organisation had, for over 20 years, provided a safe and neutral facility whereby the children of separated families could spend time with one or both parents, and sometimes other family members,” he said.

“Moore abused his position as a director and treasurer within the organisation to commit fraud with what police calculated worth more than £200,000.”

‘A significant breach of trust’

Detective Sergeant Adams said the money taken would otherwise have supported an organisation providing an important service to families.

“The fraud came to light in 2022 when concerns were raised about the running of the charity’s accounts by Moore and him making a disclosure of withdrawing money from the account to another trustee,” he said.

“A police investigation commenced and it was revealed that over a period of several years Moore had fraudulently taken huge sums from the charity.

“Fraud against a charity has consequences that extend far beyond the financial value stolen. This is money that would have supported this valued organisation.”

The detective added that Moore had been entrusted with responsibility for managing the charity’s finances but instead exploited that position for personal gain.

“His conviction and sentencing should reassure the wider community that fraud of this nature will be thoroughly investigated and prosecuted by the Police Service of Northern Ireland.”

The case serves as a stark reminder of the damage financial crime can inflict on charitable organisations, particularly those providing frontline support to vulnerable families and children.

For organisations dependent on public trust and limited resources, the consequences of such offending can be felt long after court proceedings have concluded.