Former minister who defrauded church and grieving widow jailed

Sentencing, judge Patrick Lynch KC said McLaughlin abused the trust of his congregation and regarded the parish “as if it was a personal fiefdom”.

In January 2016, the judge said, a fire at the church caused extensive damage and a fund was set up to help with restoration costs.

Over a period from August 2016 to November 2016, the church did not have a treasurer and cheques issued from the church’s accounts required two signatures – one from McLaughlin and the other from a nominated individual.

The court heard that on October 16 in 2016, McLaughlin approached the nominated individual and asked him to co-sign a cheque for £10,000 which he claimed was to purchase a replacement church organ.

The following month, after a member of the congregation took up the position of treasurer, it was discovered the cheque stub for the £10,000 transaction bore the name Northern Ireland Organs Limited.

The court heard it later emerged McLaughlin had instead made the cheque out to himself.