A 32-YEAR-OLD man has been remanded on bail after he was charged yesterday with stealing over €180,000 following a Garda investigation into the disappearance of deposits paid by secondary school students in Cork for their debs and graduation dances.
Patrick Brown, Inchirahilly, Crookstown, Co Cork appeared before Cork District Court yesterday where he was charged with a total of 77 charges of theft contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
The charges relate to deposits paid for graduation and debs dances by students at some 26 secondary schools in Cork city and county between September 2006 and June 2007 and the amounts involved, which range from €150 to €12,045, total €180,327.50.
Det Sgt Edmond Fogarty of the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation gave evidence yesterday of arrest, charge, caution and told Cork District Court that Mr Browne replied “I’ll say nothing” after the charges were put to him following caution.
Insp Pat Cadogan said that the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed that the matter be dealt with by way of trial by indictment and was consenting to the matter being sent forward to the circuit court.
He said that the Garda had no objection to bail for Mr Brown and he asked for a remand on bail to June 17th for preparation and service of documents and Judge Uinsinn Mac Gruairc granted the application and remanded Mr Brown to appear on that date.
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