According to a notice in the Allen parish’s weekly newsletter, individuals claiming to represent a group called the “Irish Soup Run” were seen collecting donations after the priest had gone into the church.
Parish officials have since confirmed that no permit was issued by An Garda Síochána for such a collection, and checks of the Register of Charities failed to verify that “Irish Soup Run” is a registered charity.
One parishioner who questioned a collector was reportedly told that “the permit is with the Bishop.”
However, the parish stressed that only An Garda Síochána has the authority to issue permits for public collections, and that collectors must be able to produce this permit if asked.
The parish expressed concern that such bogus collections can damage the reputation of genuine registered charities that depend on public support.
“Please be cautious of possible scam collectors,” the notice warned.
“Unauthorised collections not only mislead generous parishioners but also undermine the efforts of legitimate fundraising organisations.”
Parishioners are advised to report any suspicious activity at church gates to An Garda Síochána.