Man pleads guilty to €800,000 fruad

A man has pleaded guilty to being involved in an €800,000 fraud which used front companies and false identities to scam companies such as Coca-Cola and Unilever.

David Neill (aged 48) of Merton Walk, Mount Saint Annes, Milltown had originally chosen to go on trial for the offences but later changed his plea to guilty.

He pleaded guilty to 15 charges relating to the scam including lodging official documents under false names and obtaining goods on false pretences worth up to €46,500. The offences took place between May and November 2002.

Prosecuting counsel, Ms Pauline Walley SC, told the court the Director of Public Prosecutions has decided to drop all 49 charges against Neill’s co-accused who was also due to stand trial.

Neill will be sentenced in December.