A judge at Belfast Magistrates’ Court has condemned Nicola Hutton, a 54-year-old woman from Belfast, as a deceitful and heartless liar for falsely claiming she would donate a kidney to a man in need. Hutton faced charges for misleading the Cullen family by pretending to be a kidney donor for Billy Cullen, from Newtownabbey.
The court learned that Hutton initiated contact with the Cullen family through social media, using a false identity, and falsely asserted that she was undergoing the organ donation process for Billy. Over several months, she maintained this deception through text messages, even meeting the family in person, where they treated her to lunch and a gift.
During the trial, a member of the transplant coordination team testified that Hutton had never engaged with their services or initiated any transplant procedures. Hutton claimed she had already registered as a stem cell donor for a different cause in 2022 but had not been contacted by the service.
Hutton insisted she had attended approximately 10 transplant-related appointments, yet struggled to provide specific details when questioned. The court also highlighted conflicting statements made by Hutton during her police interview, casting doubt on her credibility.
The judge expressed outrage at Hutton’s actions, emphasizing how her false promises had led to wasted time for Billy, who required urgent medical attention. He described Hutton as a delusional liar who had shattered the family’s hopes of finding a kidney donor, ultimately causing harm to Billy’s health.
Concluding the trial, the judge labeled Hutton as a “wicked, callous, and evil liar,” affirming her conviction and condemning her behavior as beyond reprehensible. Hutton is scheduled for sentencing on October 30, with instructions to cooperate with the probation service and refrain from denying any communication with them.