Father and son accused of £150,000 safety glass scam deny fraud charges
A FATHER and son are denying a number of fraud charges relating to them allegedly passing off ordinary glass as fire-resistant safety glass to be fitted in dozens of buildings including a hospital, church and schools.
Seamus Laverty ( 58) and James Laverty (26), both of the same address at Deerpark Road in Toomebridge, appeared at Antrim Crown Court yesterday.
They pleaded not guilty to 14 charges of fraud by false representation involving glass worth over £150,000.
Originally they were each charged with 39 counts of fraud by false representation, one charge of converting criminal property and one of possessing criminal property.
However, nine of the charges of fraud by false representation are no longer being proceeded with after Judge Gordon Kerr QC agreed to a ‘no bill’ application by defence lawyer Charles McCreanor QC.
Buildings involved in the alleged counterfeit scam were on both sides of the border and also in Great Britain, and the offences are alleged to have occurred between 2010 and 2013.
The charges the Lavertys have pleaded not guilty to relate to 14 charges of fraud by false representation at Almac laboratory; Strathern School; National University of Ireland, Galway; Brooklands Care Home; Lisburn Road Methodist Church; DW Sports, Leicester and Colliemore Apartments, Dublin.
They also include Urban Retail Village, Camden; DW Sports, Gainsborough; Titanic Quarter, Belfast; The French Rooms, Bushmills; St Mary’s National School, Co Meath; Scoil Oibheir Naofa, Laytown and Tallaght Hospital, Dublin.
No bills were granted on fraud by false representation charges regarding Gelvin Grange; Number 16 Boiler House; Boojum, Galway; Marks & Spencer, Bangor; Marks & Spencer, Sprucefield; KFC, Milton Road, Edinburgh; Hamleys, Cardiff; Welcome Centre, Belfast and domestic premises in Cookstown, Co Tyrone.
Mr McCreanor said there will be further discussions to see if ‘no bill’ applications will be made surrounding other charges.
The court was told the trial could last three weeks and has been listed for January.
The men were released on continuing bail.
At a previous hearing earlier this year, defence lawyer Aaron Thompson said the case involved alleged sums in excess of £300,000 and related to alleged delivery of non- fire resistant glass.
It is understood the alleged fraud is connected with a now dissolved firm called Glassworks Ireland Ltd which was based at Hillview Business Park in Randalstown.