Limerick accountant charged with stealing over €70k from client

A LIMERICK man accused of stealing €70,000 from a woman now aged in her 80s has been sent forward to the circuit court.

An accountant by profession - Sean Higgins, aged 72, of Ballinvana, Kilmallock - was charged with a total of 13 offences under the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act, 2001, before the local court.

Twelve of the alleged offences relate to false accounting with one count of theft of €73,722.66 from a client. It is alleged the offences took place between 2007 and 2016.

Detective Sergeant Ted Riordan, of Bruff garda station, gave evidence of arresting, charging and cautioning the defendant on the morning of the court.

“He had nothing to say to each of the charges,” said Det Sgt Riordan, who gave evidence of serving the book of evidence on Mr Higgins.

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State solicitor Aidan Judge applied for the case to be returned for trial to the next sitting of Limerick Circuit Criminal Court.

Mr Higgins was represented by Ted McCarthy, solicitor, during the brief procedural matter.

There was no State objection to bail subject to a number of conditions including Mr Higgins is not to commit any offences or have any contact with the alleged injured party which includes social media.

Judge Patricia Harney gave Mr Higgins the alibi warning before sending the case forward to the next sitting of Limerick Circuit Court.