A man who posed as a probation officer with the Department of Justice offering to get Patrick Gillane, husband of murder victim, Philomena Gillane, out of prison for £5,000, pleaded guilty to this and other offences at Galway Circuit Court yesterday.
Bernard Hassett (52), with an address at College Park, Athlone, Co Westmeath, is also charged with attempting to defraud Mr Sean Duffy, Glenbrack, Gort, of £5,000 last May 10th by pretending he was a probation officer with the Department of Justice sent to obtain a £5,000 surety for Gillane's temporary release.
Hassett also pleaded guilty to defrauding Mr Patrick Forde, from Currandulla, Co Galway, of £3,000, by pretending to be a representative of the Department of Justice with authority to have Mr Forde's son released from prison. Mr Forde's son, Raymond (19), is serving a five-year prison sentence following a serious traffic accident in which a young girl was killed.
Det Garda John Curtin, of Gort, gave evidence that Hassett had phoned Mr Patrick Forde, father of the imprisoned youth, and told him he could arrange the temporary release of Mr Forde's son for £3,000 in cash.
Judge Carroll Moran remanded Hassett in custody to May 9th and directed that a probation report be prepared.