Ex-school head to face trial over fraud allegations

Ex-school head to face trial over fraud allegations

6 January 2016

A RETIRED headmaster has been ordered to stand trial on 25 allegations of fraud.

Stanley Poots (71), who was awarded an MBE for services to education and was headmaster of Dromara Primary School for more than 40 years, appeared at Lisburn Magistrates Court on Monday.

Poots, whose address was given as c/o Dromara Primary School, faces a total of 25 offences — 10 of forgery, five of fraud by false representation, three of fraud by abusing the position he held at the school, four of false accounting, two counts of using a false instrument and possessing an article to commit fraud.

All of the offences are alleged to have been committed on various dates between October 20, 2006, and November 3, 2011.

Among the charges it is alleged that Poots, who received his MBE in the 2011 New Year Honours list, forged an annual salary review, cashed cheques, created false invoices, falsified an expenditure sheet 

and a Big Lottery Fund application form.

Poots, a former president of the Ulster Teachers’ Union who retired from his post as headmaster in 2011 after 41 years, confirmed that he was aware of the charges and that he did not object to the preliminary inquiry committal hearing.

On Monday a prosecution lawyer submitted that there was a prima facie case for Mr Poots to answer, a submission which his solicitor took no issue with.

During a previous court appearance a defence lawyer said: ”These matters are denied and will proceed to trial.”

Releasing Poots on his own bail of £500, District Judge Rosie Watters returned the case to Craigavon Crown Court for February 4.