Nuala McLaughlin, a former Finance Officer and Business Development Officer at Antrim Enterprise Ltd, has concluded a legal battle following her conviction on April 7, 2022, for Fraud by Abuse of Position and Theft. The Confiscation/Compensation case, which concluded on November 10 at Antrim Crown Court, resulted in a criminal benefit amount of £119,779.88 and a realisable sum of £79,045.98.

The case revolved around a thorough criminal investigation conducted by the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Crime Investigation Branch (CIB) Antrim. The investigation focused on Fraud by Abuse of Position at Antrim Enterprise Ltd, a charity, spanning the period from July 2013 to December 2019. During this time, it was discovered that Ms. McLaughlin had embezzled a total of £100,656.

As a result of the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings, Compliance Orders were issued, requiring Ms. McLaughlin to make full payment of the determined amounts within 30 days.

Antrim Enterprise Ltd, the victim of the fraud, expressed their belief that they would not have been able to recover the majority of the stolen funds. The money, now secured through the legal process, will play a crucial role in furthering the development of the charity’s causes, which are vital to their future endeavours.