FÁS executive's €600,000 fraud trial adjourned

A former FÁS executive accused of defrauding the state training agency of more than €600,000, was remanded on continuing bail at the Dublin District Court today.

James Brooke-Tyrell (aged 53), with an address at Church Gate, Church Road, Greystones, Co Wicklow, had been charged in October with 47 counts of deception by manufacturing a false tender, inducing FÁS while in his position as assistant video production manager, at Upper Baggot Street, D4, resulting in cheques being issued into accounts controlled by him, from 2002 to 2008.

The charges, under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act, also stated that this was allegedly “with intention of making a gain for yourself and causing a loss to another”.

The court had also heard that as to the value of the money allegedly involved in the case was “just over €600,000.”

In November, he was charged with 33 additional counts, under Section 25 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act, for forgery of quotations on headed paper of a number of companies, on dates between 2003 and 2008.

The DPP has directed that “trial on indictment” which means the case is to dealt with at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

Today, Mr Brook-Tyrell appeared again at the Dublin District Court to be served by the State with a book of evidence.

Judge Patrick McMahon noted that the book was ready to be served on the accused.

However, he put the case back for a week saying that he could not make an order of return for trial unless the person who is acting as an independent surety, in the sum of €10,000, was also present.