Tearful Apology from Woman Who Stole from Church, by Lynne Dixon, WGRZ, July 23, 2007

Tearful Apology from Woman Who Stole from Church

By Lynne Dixon
WGRZ
July 23, 2007

http://www.wgrz.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=49714

Tonawanda (NY) — The Tonawanda woman who stole nearly half a million dollars from the parish where she worked was sentenced today to 6 months behind bars. Maureen Durrell offered a tearful apology before her sentencing.

"I'm fully aware of what I've done. And I'm very sorry..." said a tearful Durrell. "I will always continue to seek forgiveness and apologize to everyone I've hurt, most importantly the people of St. Christopher."

Durrell admits stealing close to 500-thousand dollars from church coffers at St. Christopher in Tonawanda from 1998 to 2005. She'd been church secretary there since 1992.

Maureen Durrell In Court

Her attorney, Tom Eoannou says the family had fallen on hard times. "She was a devoted wife, wonderful mother, an excellent employee and friend, and tireless volunteer for her church community and neighborhood," he said in court. "She volunteered constantly at the church. Even after she confessed, she stayed on and did volunteer work, humiliated."

Eoannou says the problems began when Durrell's husband's business folded and the family went bankrupt. "She started taking money for the kids tuition and in 2005 she confessed to Father Fran."

Durrell was caught when a priest at St. Christopher noticed church collection envelopes stuffed in Durrell's purse. "It's like a disease. The first dollar you take is terrible. The rest of the money becomes easier. And I really think with Maureen she just emotionally broke under the tough circumstances she suffered for over a decade," said Eoannou.

Durrell was to have paid back $135,000 by sentencing day but could not come up with the money in that time. "But I sincerely hope I am given the opportunity to work so that I may repay my debt and make amends to the church. To the people and all who have been hurt, I am so very sorry. Thank you for listening to me," said Durrell, crying during her statement. Her three children and husband fought back tears, as well.

But State Supreme Court Judge Penny Wolfgang said that Ms. Durrell systematically stole money. "This did not happen once. This did not happen twice. This was a systematic theft that continued for years and possibly would've been going on now if it hadn't been discovered. The point of this is not what happened to you, Ms. Durrell, but that you were stealing this money from parishioners whose intent was to provide for the poor and provide for the church, and giving this money to the poor people, not to you, to continue what according to the probation report was a lavish lifestyle that you were supporting by taking money from these innocent people."

Eoannou said his client was not leading a lavish lifestyle. He said his client will spend the rest of her days paying back the church. In addition to the 6 months in jail and restitution, Durrell must attend any counseling programs deemed necessary, submit to random drug testing, maintain employment, perform community service and write a letter of apology to the diocese and to St. Christopher.

The Buffalo Catholic Diocese says the parish is currently implementing changes recommended by their auditors.