Former executive to stand trial for €2m theft from Vodafone

A former Vodafone Ireland executive has been sent for trial accused of stealing almost €2 million from the company.

Niall Barron, who had previously held the position of head of corporate financial services at the telecoms company appeared at Dublin District Court and was served with a book of evidence by Detective Stephen Niland of the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation.

Det Gda Niland also served books of evidence on the co-defendants, married couple David and Elaine McGovern, who face charges in connection with the alleged theft of €1.25 million from Vodafone Ireland.

Judge Anthony Halpin was told the DPP consented to them being tried on indictment.

The three defendants said they understood when Judge Halpin told them that they must notify the prosecution if they intended to reply on alibis.

Judge Halpin noted there was no objection to bail and he made an order sending them forward for trial to the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court where they will face their next hearing on February 6th. They have not yet indicated how they will plead.

Mr Barron (40), who has an address at Ard na Cuan in Wexford town, faces charges of attempted theft and two for attempted deception; the remaining counts are split between theft of various sums totalling €1,983,000 from the company, and deception by inducing Vodafone to make payments to named business entities.

It is alleged the offences occurred at Vodafone’s HQ in Leopardstown in Co Dublin from 2003 until 2007.

The McGoverns from Burrow Manor, Calverstown, Co Kildare are to stand trial on connected charges.

Mr McGovern, who is involved in the running of an electronics firm, is accused of theft of sums totalling €1.25 million as well as attempted theft of €68,000.

He also has charges of deception in which it is alleged he tried to induce Vodafone staff to pay amounts to named business entities for his own gain.

He is also accused of attempted deception and has charges under under the Taxes Consolidation Act.

His wife Elaine McGovern (41), is accused of handling and possession of stolen money, sums totalling €939,741, in two bank accounts from February 2003 until August 24th, 2004.

She is also facing charges under the Taxes Consolidation Act for unlawfully submitting invoices which charged €81,000 in VAT.