Case against former Downpatrick travel agent put back until New Year

Case against former Downpatrick travel agent put back until New Year

21 November 2012

A FORMER Downpatrick travel agent has made a brief court appearance in relation to a litany of fraud allegations.

Thirty nine year-old Kathy Maria Ward, former owner of La Mon Travel Limited, faces almost 70 fraud charges and 19 charges of theft.

She appeared in Downpatrick Court on Thursday with her partner and co-accused, 46 year-old William Mark McConkey, who is accused of fraud and theft.

A preliminary enquiry (PE) into the case of Ward and McConkey, both of Tollymore Brae, Newcastle, had been listed for Thursday’s court but was adjourned until the New Year to give the legal profession time to contact scores of witnesses.

The PE, which is expected to take at least three days to complete, will determine whether Ward will stand trial in a Crown Court.

At a previous hearing in October, the couple’s defence team said they hoped that the preliminary investigation would determine there is no case to answer.

Telling the judge the case was a specialist area, Ward’s defence barrister requested that additional lawyers be allowed to assist with the preliminary investigation.

However, this request was refused with the judge determining it was unnecessary to grant a legal aid certificate for extra counsel.

A date for the preliminary enquiry will be fixed in the New Year.

Ward is also listed as Kathy Maguire for some of her charges.