Estate agent appears in court over alleged social welfare fraud
A WELL-known Midlands estate agent and former chamber of commerce president has been charged with alleged social welfare fraud, the Irish Mail on Sunday has learned.
Fintan McGill, the managing director at Sherry FitzGerald in Longford and the former president of the Longford Chamber of Commerce, appeared before the local district court on March 16 where he was charged with 10 counts of theft by deception.
The businessman is due back before the Longford District Court on May 11.
The MoS has learned gardaí previously searched a premises and recovered a quantity of money.
A file was later sent to the Director of Public Prosecutions and a decision was made to charge the auctioneer last month.
Mr McGill was arrested on March 15 and released on station bail to appear in court on March 16 where he was charged with the theft by deception.
It is understood the charges relate to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment – and relates to a total amount of money approximating €3,000. Mr McGill was arrested on March 15 and released on station bail to appear in court on March 16 where he was charged. He did not enter a plea.
According to the Sherry FitzGerald website Mr McGill has been involved in the property business since 2001 and has ‘widespread experience in all sectors of the property business including residential/commercial sales and lettings, commercial management and property valuations’.
He also works as an expert witness for court and local authority valuations.
Mr McGill is a former president of Longford Chamber of Commerce and secretary to Longford High Achievers Network, a business referral network.
Mr McGill declined to comment on the charges when contacted by the Irish Mail on Sunday.
The Government has paid out over €5.5bn through the PUP and at its peak over 598,000 people were dependent on this income support.
There was a reduction of 5.7% last month in the combined numbers of people on the Live Register and PUP.
According to the latest figures from the CSO, there were 617,441 people on both the Live Register and PUP last month.
Secretary of Longford High Achievers Network