McClay offers no apologies for charity double dip

Roger McClay was sentenced to 300 hours' community work on three representative fraud charges. Photo / Greg Bowker

Disgraced former Government minister Roger McClay has yet to apologise to the two cash-strapped charities he rorted in a $25,000 fraud.

Sentenced yesterday in the Auckland District Court to 300 hours of community work after admitting three fraud charges, McClay refused to speak to reporters to offer a public apology or explanation for his actions.

Last night, it emerged that the two charities he defrauded over two years - World Vision and Keep New Zealand Beautiful - have also not heard from him.

Last week, he repaid the $5460.70 in driving mileage he falsely claimed from World Vision, but a spokeswoman last night confirmed he had not said sorry to the charity.

"I'm sure our supporters would have appreciated [an apology]," she said.

McClay has also repaid the $6339.30 he falsely claimed from Keep New Zealand Beautiful.

Tony Rush, who replaced McClay as chairman, said the former MP had not spoken to the charity since pleading guilty last week.

But Mr Rush said he did not think an apology was important.

"We get too hung up on meaningless apologies," he said. "I have no reason to doubt the sincerity of his support in the past."

A "sense of entitlement" led to McClay's fall from grace, said the police officer who investigated the former minister over his $25,000 double-dipping rort of the charities and the public purse.

Detective Inspector Greg Cramer led the inquiry as police investigated for more than 12 months before laying 56 fraud charges in March.

McClay pleaded guilty to three representative charges in the Auckland District Court after Judge Jan Doogue indicated the 65-year-old would not go to jail.

Yesterday, Judge Doogue sentenced him to 300 hours of community work and urged him to pick up litter or clean graffiti.

She said that work would be appropriate given the goals of Keep New Zealand Beautiful, of which he had been the chairman.

His early admission of guilt, full reparation of $24,687.10 and career of public service were taken into account in sentencing, said Judge Doogue.

Speaking after the court hearing, Mr Cramer told the Herald the fraud convictions were "sad for a man who has had a distinguished career".

"This is a blemish on that career, at a time in his life when he should be able to look back with some pride on what he has achieved."

Mr Cramer said the frauds seemed to stem from a "sense of entitlement".

"It is such a shame that someone who has done so much good for society has felt the need to offend in this way."

Judge Doogue described the offending over nearly three years as "calculating" and said it was further aggravated by the respect in which McClay was held in the community.

His stealing undermined the public faith in the charities and jeopardised their ability to raise funds in the future, she said.

Over nearly three years, the five-term National Party MP charged World Vision and Keep New Zealand Beautiful $11,800 for travel costs when he had flown courtesy of the taxpayer.

He then claimed $12,887.10 from the Parliamentary Service with the 90 per cent travel discount he receives as an ex-MP, signing false declarations that the travel was for personal reasons.

McClay's lawyer, Guyon Foley, told the court his client was remorseful and that was shown by the early guilty pleas to defrauding Keep New Zealand Beautiful, World Vision and the Parliamentary Service.

He had borrowed money and repaid the almost $25,000 he fraudulently claimed.

Mr Foley said McClay had spent his life helping other people.

"His offending was baffling given the esteem he is held in the community and his good character," Mr Foley said.

McClay's actions would have a lasting effect on him and his family, Mr Foley said.

"He will feel the indelible stain of his convictions."

A statement from the Parliamentary Service referred to by Judge Doogue said McClay's breach of trust undermined a system that rewarded the public service of MPs.

His fraud had come when spending by MPs past and present was under intense media scrutiny, and had far-reaching consequences in eroding public faith.

McClay would lose his ex-MP travel entitlements - discounts on 12 domestic flights and one international - worth up to $30,000 a year.