A retired Co Antrim headmaster who was awarded an MBE for services to education was yesterday ordered to stand trial on 25 allegations of fraud.
Previously, a solicitor for 71-year-old Stanley Poots, headmaster of Dromara Primary School for more than 40 years, told Lisburn Magistrate's Court "these matters are denied and will proceed to trial", and yesterday the pensioner declined to comment on them.
Mr Poots, whose address was given as c/o Dromara Primary School on the Hillsborough Road in the town, faces 25 offences including 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, and two counts of using a false instrument and possessing an article to commit fraud. All charges are alleged to have been committed on dates between October 20th, 2006, and November 3rd, 2011.
Among the charges it is alleged Mr Pootsforged a salary review, cashed cheques, created false invoices, and falsified an expenditure sheet and Big Lottery Fund application form. Releasing Mr Poots on his own bail of £500, district judge Rosie Watters returned the case to Craigavon Crown Court and ordered him to appear there on February 4th.