Wrote out father in law’s cheques to himself

DUNDALK MAN ADMITS MAKING OUT CHEQUES FOR €3,550 IN TOTAL

A Dundalk man has pleaded guilty to making out cheques, belonging to his then father in law, to himself but denied forging the signature on them.

Keith Halpenny, (35), 31 Willowdale, Bay Estate, admitted charges relating to four cheques - two in 2010, and one each in 2011 and 2012. Judge Flann Brennan was told the DPP had consented to the case being dealt with on pleas of guilty only.

The court heard how the defendant’s former father in law brought the four cheques to the attention of Gardai. One was made out to Halpenny in the sum of €1,100 for wages. The victim said it was not his signature on the cheque. The defendant admitted making out the cheque to himself, but denied forging the signature.

The second cheque was for €1045, again for wages, and again the victim claimed the signature was not his. Halpenny said he made the cheque payable to himself, but didn’t forge the signature.

A further cheque for €755 was made out, with the same allegation made by the victim and the same admission and forgery denial by the defendant. The last cheque, for €650, was, the victim said, pre-signed and Halpenny made it out to himself, he admitted. Gardai said the total sum involved was €3,550 and added officers had been told the Bank of Ireland in Dundalk had reimbursed the victim for the amounts of the cheques.

Solicitor Niall Lavery said the injured party was his client’s father in law and there had been ‘a number of cross allegations made’ between the parties. The solicitor added there was ‘quite a conflict in the evidence in terms of what was said by both about each other’.

He said there had been a marital dispute going on and Halpenny and his wife are now broken up. Mr Lavery said Halpenny had given full explanations to Gardai and there was ‘considerable disagreement between him and his wife about how he got the cheques’, but the defendant is ‘accepting responsibility for his actions’.

Mr Lavery said: ‘He’s pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity and his admitted in full his role and helped with their inquiries’. The incidents relate to 2010 to 2012 and Halpenny had ‘chosen not to argue about prosecutorial delay. He had brought a bank draft for the full amount involved to court by way of restitution to the bank.

Gardai said there were allegations about a second person in the case and the bank had reimbursed the victim a total of €12,000.

Halpenny, who has no previous convictions, has never come to the attention of Gardai before, Mr Lavery, said and had led a ‘ blameless life’. He has ‘ taken a nature view of this and has made full restitution to the financial institution’.

Mr Lavery said his client, who works as a health and safety officer, would not be in court again. Judge Brennan adjourned the case to December 7 for a probation report.