A Co Galway woman, charged with 82 counts of stealing cash and forging cheques resulting in a city business suffering a loss worth thousands of euro, is due to be sent forward for trial.
Fiona Whyte (47 ), with an address at Shrule Grove, Shrule, Co Galway, appeared at Galway District Court on Monday where Garda Padraig Healy gave evidence of arrest, charge, and caution.
Garda Healy told the court that the defendant had been arrested on the morning of the court sittting before being charged at Galway Garda Station. He added that when the 82 charges were proffered Whyte made no reply.
Whyte, a full-time student, is charged with 42 counts of forging cheques with amounts ranging between €600 and €2,150, in the name of Olympic Saddlery, Briarhill Business Park, over a two-year period, contrary to Section 25 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud ) Act 2001. She is further charged with 40 counts of stealing cash, with amounts ranging from €500 to €2,000, on various dates between January 2009 and January 2011, contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud ) Act 2001, and with committing theft, contrary to Common Law.
Inspector Sean Glynn told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions has advocated trial by indictment, adding that the defendant was in custody for the purpose of charging and that there would be no objection to bail being granted on a bond of €500, no lodgement required, with conditions that she reside at her home address, surrender her passport within 24 hours and not apply for any further passport or travel documents.
Judge Mary Fahy remanded Whyte on her own bail of €500 to appear at Galway District Court on December 19 for the service of the book of evidence. Legal aid was also granted.
