A DISTRICT Court judge pleaded not guilty yesterday when she was charged by fraud squad detectives with false accounting and theft.
Judge Heather Perrin (60) was appointed to the Dublin Metropolitan District Court bench in February 2009 after practising as a solicitor for 26 years. Before she was made a judge, she ran a law firm at Fairview Strand, in Dublin. Yesterday afternoon, Judge Perrin, Lambay Court, Malahide, Co Dublin, was arrested and brought before Judge Denis McLoughlin at Dublin District Court and faced two charges.
The first charge states she allegedly stole €4,416 from Gareth Gilroy, between May 1st, 2006, and July 31st, 2007. The second charge alleges that between May 25th, 2004 and February 2nd, 2009, she dishonestly – to make a gain for herself and to cause a loss to another – made use of an account or document which to her knowledge was or could have been misleading, false or deceptive.
Judge McLoughlin then made an order sending her forward for trial at the next term of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
Bail was granted in her own bond of €1,000.