A DISTRICT Court judge is to face trial accused of deceiving an elderly couple in Dublin into putting two of her own children into their will.
Judge Heather Perrin (60), who was appointed to the Dublin Metropolitan District Court bench in February 2009 after practising as a solicitor for 26 years, was arrested yesterday following an investigation launched in December 2009.
At 2.54pm, the judge was arrested by appointment by detectives from the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation, at her home at Lambay Court, Malahide, in Dublin.
Judge Perrin was then taken to Clontarf Garda station and charged with two counts under section 6 of the Theft and Fraud Offences Act.
The charges allege that at her former solicitor’s practice at Fairview Strand, Dublin, Judge Perrin “with intention of making a gain to another or cause a loss to another induced” Thomas Davis and Ada Davis to each bequeath their halves of their residual estates to Sybil and Adam Perrin on January 22nd, 2009.
Det Sgt Patrick Linehan told presiding Judge David McHugh that on arrest Judge Perrin was cautioned and told that if she had anything to say “it will be taken down and used in evidence”.
After caution, she made no reply to either charge, Dublin District Court heard.
Det Sgt Linehan had no objection to bail being granted to the defendant, who remained seated and silent during the brief proceedings.
State solicitor Catherine Irvine told Judge McHugh: “The DPP has directed trial on indictment in respect of both charges.”
The book of evidence in the case had been completed and it was then served on the defendant by Det Sgt Linehan.
Judge McHugh told the accused: “I am sending this matter forward to the present sittings of the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on charges one and two as contained in the book of evidence.”
Judge McHugh also notified Judge Perrin that if she intended to rely on an alibi as part of her defence she must furnish the details to the State within 14 days.
He then remanded Judge Perrin on bail in her own bond of €1,000 pending her trial.