A former bank manager in the North was charged today with a £7 million fraud and money laundering operation.
Peter Creegan (43) from Tullydonnell Road, Silverbridge, Co Armagh, was accused of defrauding the First Trust Bank after he was arrested as part of a massive cross-border operation involving police and gardaí.
He was detained last week and large amounts of documentation were taken from his home following a complaint by First Trust and an anonymous source, police said.
He appeared at Armagh Magistrates’ Court today, alongside former Halifax employee Damien Pius Mallon (52) from Drumconwell Road, Armagh, who is also accused of conspiring with him to fraudulently obtain money.
A detective constable told the court: “There are other individuals, witnesses and others, who the police seek to interview. It is not likely that it will last several months but certainly some weeks are required.
“Police have received a complaint from the First Trust Bank and a third party in respect of an initial complaint of £3.4 million and €3.9 million and that figure escalates at the moment.”
Mr Creegan was charged with making false representation to cause loss to the First Trust Bank, entering into an unlawful arrangement to acquire criminal property.
He also allegedly conspired with Mallon to cheat and defraud and apply for a loan using false identity.
The alleged offences happened between 2006 and this year. Mr Creegan, a married father-of-three, worked at the First Trust for 24 years but lost his job at the start of this year.
Mr Mallon, who has also worked as a financial advisor, was in charge of Halifax branches in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, and Keady, Co Armagh. His charges span the years from 2002 to 2009.
He was accused of fraudulently opening a bank account to make gain for himself or another to cause loss to the Halifax. He was also alleged to have converted criminal property and entered into an arrangement allowing the acquisition of criminal property.
Neither men, who wore dark suits and were flanked by prison guards, responded when the charges were read out before district judge Paul Copeland. He is to rule on their bail applications tomorrow and they were remanded in custody.
Police said there was a fear of them absconding, given the large sums of money involved, and a risk to witnesses if they were released.
PA