Bride-to-be faces charge over dress claim fraud

A BRIDE-to-be who submitted a fraudulent claim to the liquidator of a bridal shop may face criminal prosecution.

Gerard Murphy, liquidator of The Wedding Dress Ltd, said one customer had claimed she was owed €3,000 when the correct figure was €1,235.

“I am considering referring the claim to the gardaí,” Mr Murphy said yesterday. Based in Midleton, Co Cork, Mr Murphy was appointed last month following the closure in March of the popular Cork city-based bridal shop.

Last week, he organised a sale of remaining wedding dress stock which he opened to the public so that they, as well as the trade, could benefit from knock-down prices.

As many as 250 wedding dresses and other accessories were sold, including bridal and bridesmaid gowns, evening wear, men’s dress suits, tiaras and shoes. Mr Murphy said total revenue amounted to €50,000, which included two trade sales involving a line of men’s suits and a line of page-boy outfits.

“It was a very good sale, the public had good access to the materials and we had trade enquiries from Dublin, Limerick, Wexford and Kerry. By and large, the stock is moving, and will continue to do so over the next few days.”

Mr Murphy said couples bought dress suits outright because the cost was no greater than rental hire costs. He said they also sold bridal wear to couples only planning their engagement and to one couple not due to wed until 2008.

Up to 2,000 customers attended over the four days of the sale.

The bad news for brides-to-be who are owed money by The Wedding Dress is the money raised will go to preferential creditors such as the Revenue Commissions, if it is not all absorbed by the cost of the liquidation operation.

However, Mr Murphy said credit card companies were reimbursing brides who had proof of making payments to The Wedding Dress for goods not received. The liquidator has supplied proof where necessary.

In a letter to brides affected by the liquidation, he has also included a paragraph seeking return of a substantial number of men’s dress suits taken in a raid on The Wedding Dress warehouse after news of its financial difficulties broke.

A number of bridal gowns, including one fully paid for, and due for use this summer, also remain on the missing list.