Net closing in on debs ball organiser

THE Garda Fraud squad was closing in on an events organiser last night who allegedly took almost €185,000 from thousands of students for graduation balls he failed to book.

A senior fraud squad officer confirmed yesterday that they are investigating whether or not Pat Browne, a freelance events organiser in his 30s from Cork, has committed a criminal offence under theft and fraud legislation.

“We have received a number of complaints from students of several schools,” the garda spokesman said.

“We are investigating the matter and we would like to discuss this issue with the individual. We do intend to speak to the man as soon as possible. But the man is uncontactable.”

It is understood gardaí are examining whether Mr Browne could be guilty of deception under Section 6 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act 2001, or guilty of theft under Section 4 of the same act.

Persons found guilty of such offences face a maximum prison sentence of five years.

A file on the matter is expected to be prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) who will decide whether or not criminal proceedings should issue.

Mr Browne, originally from Cork’s northside but who is understood to be renting a house in Upper Glanmire, was at the centre of a scandal at the weekend when it emerged that he had failed to pay a €24,860 booking deposit to Silversprings Moran Hotel in Cork by July 20 to secure dates for graduation balls for 18 secondary schools.

Almost 3,000 students from schools across Cork City and county had each paid money to Mr Brown to book the hotel and organise all aspects of their graduation balls for them.

However, after a meeting with concerned hotel management last Thursday, Mr Browne claimed that he had used the estimated €185,000 he had collected to pay off debts from last year’s events.

Hotel management stepped in immediately to save the events. Silversprings Moran co-owner, Pat Power, offered to honour the dates and provide the events at cost price to each of the schools.

Despite this gesture, students who paid between €75 and €160 to Mr Browne will still have to pay out more money to attend their graduation events.

By Saturday, just four schools had been contacted with news of the hotel’s offer.

But hotel manager, Eoin Daly, confirmed that all but one school — Mayfield Community School — has been contacted.

“We have made contact with some pupils and with some parents from the school, but we are waiting to speak directly to representatives of the organising committee,” he said.

It is understood some of the organisers are on holiday. A total of 120 students will attend the school’s debs on September 4.

Mr Power also confirmed that DJs, bands, photographers, bus hire companies and security staff who were due to work at each of the events have also agreed to honour the bookings at competitive prices.

Despite the difficulties with the events organiser, he said there had been a positive reaction from everyone else since news of the story broke.

“We’ve even heard that some of the schools have offered to meet some, if not all of the costs of their students’ events,” he said.