Councillor admits 13 fraud charges in court

Councillor admits 13 fraud charges in court

25 March 2015

A DUNDRUM councillor has admitted defrauding a local community group.

Patrick Clarke, who sits as an independent on the new Newry, Mourne and Down Council, appeared at Downpatrick Court on Thursday and admitted 13 charges.

Clarke, who resigned from the Alliance Party earlier this year and now sits as an independent councillor, committed the offences against Drumaroad Community Regeneration Limited in 2010.

At the court Clarke admitted eight counts of fraud by abuse of position and a further five counts of fraud by false representation. The charges largely centre around forged cheques.

The 40-year-old, with an address at Main Street in Dundrum, committed the offences between May and August 2010.

Clarke only spoke to put on record that he was pleading not guilty to a further two allegations — one of fraud by abuse of position and one count of fraud by false representation. These offences are also alleged to have taken place during the same timeframe.

Details of these will be outlined during a contested hearing at the court on April 30, after which Clarke will be sentenced on the charges he has pleaded guilty to.