Brothers who forged documents to get mortgage given suspended sentences

Two Cork brothers who bought forged documents to help them get a €650,000 mortgage have escaped with a suspended sentence and fine at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Riaz Hussain (aged 40) and Ashfaq Ahmed (aged 40) both of St Anthony's Store, Togher Cross, Togher but originally from Pakistan pleaded guilty to attempting to obtain a service from the Irish Mortgage Corporation by deception and using a counterfeit P60 between September 1 and 11, 2006.

The brothers, who run a barbershop in Cork, approached the Irish Mortgage Corporation and jointly applied for a €650,000 loan to buy a house in Cavan. When that house was taken off the market, Hussain applied for a €225,000 mortgage and his brother applied for one worth €290,000 for two adjoining houses.

As part of their application they presented a forged letter from their previous employer, Liam Finnegan of Waldorf Hairdressing Services, which gave a false salary. They also each submitted three false P60 documents and three forged wage slips which overstated their yearly income.

Ahmed claimed they bought the documents for €500 and were told they would make it far easier to get a mortgage. The scam was uncovered before any money was paid over to the men.

Detective Garda Brian Sherian told prosecuting counsel, Mr Dominic McGinn BL, that both men came to the garda station voluntarily and admitted they used false documents. He said they were less forthcoming about who sold them the papers, only identifying him as "Mick".

He said Ahmed had no previous convictions while Hussain had one for failing to appear on a previous court date in relation to the current charges.

Hussain’s defence counsel, Mr Sean Guerin BL, said his client had been living in Ireland since 2001 and was married with five children. He said the brothers had intended on buying the houses to give their families somewhere to live.

Counsel for Ahmed, Ms Gerardine Small BL, said her client was married with three children and had another three in Pakistan from a previous marriage.

Judge Katherine Delahunt fined them each €7,000 with a six month sentence if they fail to pay within six months. She also imposed a two year sentence on the men, suspended for three years.

She commented: "Perhaps you were carried away with the view that you needed property to establish yourself in this country."

"Aside from this incident you seem to be of good character and have made a life for youself in this country."