Debs ball organiser likely to be re-interviewed

FRAUD Squad detectives are expected to re-interview, within the next two weeks, the man at the centre of the debacle over the Cork schools’ debs functions.

Gardaí are expected to send a file to the DPP within one month.

Detective Sergeant Eddie Fogarty said that from investigations, to date, it appeared likely that self-styled events organiser Pat Browne owed in the region of €200,000.

It is believed that Mr Browne, aged 30, is co-operating with the investigation and that gardaí remain in constant touch with him.

He was living in a rented house in Upper Glanmire when he was first interviewed by gardaí. He has since moved from there and while gardaí will not say where he has relocated to, he is believed to be living in the Blarney area.

On July 20 last, Mr Browne failed to honour the €24,920 deposit which he was due to pay Silver Springs Moran Hotel for 19 debs balls he had booked.

Technically, though, no offence was committed unless the money was not paid immediately after the events had taken place.

However, a number of the debs balls have since taken place. Gardaí are waiting until they are all concluded, by the end of September, at which time such details will be added to the file for the DPP. The DPP will then decide whether a criminal offence has been committed and whether or not proceedings should ensue.

Senior management at the Silver Springs Moran Hotel stepped in at the last minute to salvage the debs balls, offering students cost-price deals.

In 2005, Mr Browne organised a number of debs balls in the Rochestown Park and paid for them in full. The following year he asked for credit and was offered it by hotel management.

However, when the hotel sought payment in September 2006 it was, reportedly, not forthcoming.

Repeated attempts to recoup the money failed and the hotel has begun legal proceedings to get back the €130,000 it says Mr Browne owes.