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Man and woman appear in Sligo court on charges of stealing €31k in social welfare

The alleged offences took place in Coolaney Post Office over a period of 17 months from September 2020 to February 2022

Sligo Champion

Today at 11:58

A woman and man have been returned for trial to the next sitting of Sligo Circuit Court on October on charges of stealing a total of €31,000 from the Department of Social Protection.

The alleged offences took place in Coolaney Post Office over a period of 17 months from September 2020 to February 2022.

Deirdre Wheeler, (48) of Horseshoe Crescent, Coolaney is facing a total of 41 charges of stealing Job Seekers Allowance and Fuel Allowance payments in various amounts in the names of Reece and Francois De Poix, the property of the Department of Social Protection

The alleged amount stolen was €22,000.

The defendant is also facing a charge that on various dates between September 21,2020 and February 23, 2022 at AIB Bank Stephen Street Sligo did engage in converting/handling/acquiring/ possessing/using property that is the proceeds of criminal property, to wit lodgements and on-line transactions carried out on an AIB Bank account while knowing that/believing/being reckless as to whether or not said property was the proceeds of criminal conduct.

Her co-accused, Reece De Poix (25) of The Mill Centre, Main Street, Coolaney is charged with stealing Job Seekers Allowance in his own name to a total of €9,000 from September 2020 to February 2022, the property of The Department of Social Protection.

The defendant is facing a total of 20 charges and these alleged offences took place at Coolaney Post Office.

Garda Martin Kelly gave evidence of serving the Book of Evidence on both defendants at Sligo District Court last Thursday morning.

Judge Brendan O’Reilly returned both defendants for trial to the present sittings of the Circuit Court.

Mr Tom MacSharry, solicitor (for Wheeler) made an application for a senior and junior counsel for the Circuit Court and this was granted by Judge O’Reilly.

Mr Gerard McGovern, solicitor (for De Poix) was also granted a junior and a senior counsel for the Circuit Court.

Judge Brendan O’Reilly remanded both defendants on continuing bail to appear at the present sittings of the Circuit Court in Sligo. .

Meanwhile, in a separate case a man, who can’t be named for legal reasons has been returned for trial at the Circuit Court on ten counts of indecently assaulting a female.

The man is charged that on a date unknown between February 11 1986 and February 10 1988 indecently assaulted a female at a location in county Sligo.

Judge Brendan O’Reilly granted legal aid for a senior and a junior counsel.