A former GAA player who captained Derry's senior football team 30 years ago appeared in court in Derry yesterday charged with obtaining £75,000 from a woman aged in her 70s, with intent to permanently deprive her of her money.
Peter Stevenson, (59), who currently lives at Bunn, Blueball, Tullamore, Co Offaly, is alleged to have committed the offence between April 27th, 1993 and May 4th, 1993 when he worked as an insurance sales representative.
The defendant, who had been held overnight in custody in the Strand Road PSNI headquarters before yesterday's court appearance, was a member of Derry's Ulster championship winning sides of 1975 and 1976 and captained the Derry team which was beaten by Kerry in the 1976 All-Ireland football semi-final. In that game Stevenson scored a penalty.
A detective constable told resident magistrate Barney McElholm that the charge against the defendant was one of obtaining the £75,000 by deception with the suggestion of investing the money on behalf of the woman.
The police officer said he believed he could connect the defendant to the charge and asked for a remand to enable him to complete his inquiries.
In response to questions from defence solicitor Mr Dermot Downey, the witness confirmed that the defendant "came into the jurisdiction by arrangement" and that "throughout police interviews he was completely co-operative and answered all the questions".
The detective constable said he had no objection to the defendant being remanded on bail, adding he believed the defendant would attend future court hearings.
Granting legal aid, the magistrate remanded the defendant, who is currently on State benefits, on his own bail of £5,000 plus one independent surety also of £5,000 to appear before the same court on April 6th.