A Scottish couple have denied embezzling £138,482 from a GoFundMe campaign set up to help a dying Nigerian boy, after appearing at Dundee Sheriff Court.
Prosecutors allege Sharyn McInally-Johnston, 40, and Mark McInally-Johnston, 45, embezzled the money while acting as organisers and administrators of the fundraiser for Nathaniel Nabena, from Nigeria. The alleged offence took place between May 2021 and January 2024 at addresses in Helensburgh, Aberfeldy and elsewhere.
Nathaniel was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in 2021 while visiting the UK to have a prosthetic eye fitted, after losing an eye to myeloid sarcoma. As a non-EU citizen he was not eligible for NHS-funded treatment, and a campaign backed by celebrities including Simon Cowell raised funds for his care. He was later granted permission to stay in the UK on compassionate grounds and received a stem-cell transplant. Nathaniel died from an infection in 2022, aged 10. The remaining funds were intended to start a charity for other children with blood cancer.
The couple, from Kenmore in Perthshire, denied the charge. The court was told the trial was likely to hear evidence from seven witnesses, including five police officers. The case was continued to trial at Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court on 22 February 2027.
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- SupportedThe couple deny embezzling about £138,000 from the fundraiser.BBC Scotland: “Couple deny embezzling £138,000 from dying boy's fundraiser.”
- SupportedProsecutors allege the couple embezzled £138,482 from a fundraiser for Nathaniel Nabena.BBC Scotland: “A Scottish couple have appeared in court accused of embezzling £138,482 from a fundraiser set up to help a dying boy.”
- SupportedThe couple appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court and denied the charge.BBC Scotland: “The couple, aged 40 and 45 respectively, denied the charge during an appearance at Dundee Sheriff Court.”
- SupportedThe Perthshire pair are to stand trial in February 2027 over money from the GoFundMe campaign.STV News: “A couple accused of embezzling more than £138,000 from a fund set up to help a young boy suffering from cancer will stand trial in February.”
- SupportedThe alleged embezzlement was while the couple were organisers and administrators of the GoFundMe for Nathaniel, set up by his father.BBC Scotland: “Prosecutors allege Sharyn and Mark McInally-Johnston embezzled the money while acting as organisers and administrators of a GoFundMe set up for Nathaniel Nabena by his father.”
- SupportedThe alleged offence took place between May 2021 and January 2024 at addresses in Helensburgh, Aberfeldy and elsewhere.BBC Scotland: “It is alleged the couple, from Kenmore in Perthshire, embezzled the money between May 2021 and January 2024. The offence is said to have taken place at addresses in Helensburgh, Aberfeldy, and elsewhere.”
- SupportedSharyn and Mark McInally-Johnston, from Kenmore in Perthshire, are 40 and 45 respectively.STV News: “Sharyn, 40, and 45-year-old Mark McInally-Johnston, from Kenmore in Perthshire, appeared at Dundee Sheriff Court on Tuesday.”
- SupportedNathaniel was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukaemia in 2021 while visiting the UK for a prosthetic eye, after losing an eye to myeloid sarcoma.STV News: “Nathaniel was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukaemia in 2021 while visiting the UK to have a prosthetic eye fitted, after losing it to Myeloid Sarcoma.”
- SupportedNathaniel was initially ineligible for NHS-funded treatment as a non-EU citizen, and the fundraising campaign was backed by celebrities including Simon Cowell.STV News: “As a non-EU national, he was ineligible for NHS-funded treatment, and a campaign to raise funds was backed by celebrities including Simon Cowell.”
- SupportedNathaniel was granted permission to stay in the UK on compassionate grounds, received a stem-cell transplant and died from an infection in 2022, aged 10.BBC Scotland: “But an application to stay in the UK on compassionate grounds was later granted, allowing Nathaniel to receive the treatment.”
- SupportedThe remaining funds were intended to start a charity to help other children with blood cancer.STV News: “The remaining money raised by the campaign was to be used to start a charity to help other children with blood cancer.”
- SupportedThe court was told the trial was likely to hear evidence from seven witnesses, including five police officers.BBC Scotland: “The court was told that the trial was likely to hear evidence from seven witnesses, including five police officers.”