41 new charges brought against former ISPCC chief executive

Forty-one new charges were brought yesterday against against former chief executive of the Irish Society for the Prevention of…

Forty-one new charges were brought yesterday against against former chief executive of the Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (ISPCC), Mr Cian O'Tighearnaigh.

The charges related to the alleged misppropriation of funds.

Mr O'Tighearnaigh (43), of Mount Argus Road, Harold's Cross, Dublin, had been charged last month with carrying on business for a fraudulent purpose, contrary to the Companies Act, while head of the ISPCC in December 1998.

Yesterday in Dublin District Court, Det Garda Francis McGroder, of the Bureau of Fraud Investigation, brought 41 new charges of failing to keep proper records, falsification of accounts, false pretences and fraudulent conversion of fund-raising monies at the ISPCC's Dublin offices in the same month.

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Det Garda McGroder said he met Mr O'Tighearnaigh yesterday morning, and after the new charges were read to him he replied "Not guilty".

The court heard the book of evidence was ready, and the defence was seeking a four-week remand. Det Garda McGroder served the book on Mr O'Tighernaigh.

Judge Leo Malone extended his original bail of £3,000 to cover the new charges and remanded him to appear again on February 5th.

Mr O'Tighearnaigh arrived early at the Bridewell courts and smiled at waiting photographers.

He went into the adjoining Garda station where he met detectives from the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation.

He walked into court with the officers just after Judge Malone sat.

His case was the third to be called, but as he made his way to the dock, the State solicitor asked that the case be put back for a short time to allow all the new charge sheets to be brought into court.

Mr O'Tighearnaigh did not speak during his brief appearance about a half an hour later.

He sat silently as Det Garda McGroder gave evidence of bringing the new charges against him.

He stayed sitting as the detective handed the book of evidence to him.