Credit union director pleads guilty to €52k fraud attempt
Pat Laffan, aged 61, of Tullovin, Croom, was remanded on continuing bail to the same court on July 28 for sentence.
He claimed his car was forcibly taken from him by a group of men after he was forced into a layby as he travelled along a motorway near Dundonald, Co Down, in December 2013.
He made a claim for the loss of the vehicle to the insurers.
The fraud was uncovered by Limerick gardaí in March 2014 when they received information that the car Laffan claimed to have been stolen, a black 12C reg E220 diesel Mercedes, was in a local garage. They found the car under a black covering.
Gardaí were satisfied the owner of the garage knew nothing about the fraud.
Laffan, a director of Rathkeale and District Credit Union, had claimed that after going to a race meeting in Navan, Co Meath, in December 2013, he decided to head to the North to shop. He drove to Newry, Co Down, and, while there, claimed he made a decision to visit friends in Newtownards.
As he travelled in darkness, he heard a loud beeping of a motor horn behind him and the lights of that vehicle, he claimed, were also being flashed. He said he was worried it was police and decided to slow. Laffan said that, as he slowed, he was forced into a layby and three men got out of a van.
In his statement about the incident, he said the men then proceeded to verbally abuse him, calling him a “Fenian fucker”. Laffan said it was very dark and he was terrified.
He claimed one of the men got into the driver’s seat of his car, spun the wheels of his Mercedes, and sped off. The other two took off in their van, Laffan claimed.
In a statement, he said: “I couldn’t believe it. They were gone in seconds. I was left standing on the side of the road in complete shock.”
He claimed the three spoke with strong Northern accents.
He made his way back to Newtownards, contacted the PSNI, and gave a statement to Det Constable Amber Dixon of the CID.
However, as a result of information received in March 2014, gardaí at Henry St station in Limerick visited a garage business where they found the Mercedes covered by a dark tarpaulin.
On the application of John O’Sullivan, prosecuting, Judge Tom O’Donnell adjourned yesterday’s hearing for sentencing until July 28.
Pat Barriscale, defending, consented to the application and Laffan was remanded on continuing bail.
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
Be the first to know the latest news and updates
