Woman to go on trial accused of £1m charity fraud
The woman appeared at Bishop Street court house in Londonderry
- Published
A former cross community charity worker is to stand trial accused of more than 20 charges relating to an alleged £1m Gift Aid fraud.
Wendy MacBean, 60, from Railway Park, St Johnston in County Donegal, is alleged to have committed the offences when employed by Foyle Youth And Community Association in Londonderry.
At the city's Crown Court on Wednesday, she denied 25 charges, including cheating the Inland Revenue by claiming that the charity had received donations of more than £1million for which she claimed Gift Aid of over £250,000.
She also denied transferring over £94,000 from the charity's account to her own account.
The defendant further denied six charges of forging donations and sponsorship forms in the name of the charity.
The court was told the alleged offences were committed between October 2017 and May 2020.
A prosecution barrister said that a total of 17 witnesses were involved in the case, some of whom he hoped could be agreed before any trial.
Judge Neil Rafferty adjourned the case until 26 June and the defendant was released on continuing bail.