A Dublin man has launched an appeal against his conviction for stealing thousands of Euro from a charity for sick children.

John Murphy of Church Road in Killiney avoided jail after being found guilty of stealing from the Children to Lapland Appeal which he had founded.

The 68-year-old – who also goes by the names Cornelius or Con – was convicted in 2016 of stealing more than €18,000 euro from the charity he founded - which sent terminally ill children to see Santa in Lapland.

The Children to Lapland Appeal was set it up in 1987 and he used his travel agency to fly the children to see Santa - but it has since gone into liquidation.

Mr Murphy had denied allegations of transferring money from the charity into his personal account saying he often used that account for business.

He received a three year suspended sentence and was also banned from fundraising for three years.

He has now launched an appeal against the conviction with his barrister pointing to comments made by the trial Judge to the jury in relation to his personal and business bank accounts.

The three judges of the Court of Appeal will hand down their decision at a later date.