A TOP Bank of Ireland official linked to the disappearance of tens of thousands of pounds in funds from one of Ulster's best known GAA clubs has been reported to police over separate allegations of fraud.
The Irish News can reveal that the bank official at the centre of the missing cash scandal is Cushendall man Paddy Kane.
A former treasurer at Ruairí Óg CLG in Cushendall, Mr Kane until recently worked as a senior official at the Bank of Ireland in Magherafelt, Co Derry.
Club documents obtained by the Irish News also reveal that more than £171,000 was "misappropriated" from the club.
It has also emerged that the club has now received around £73,000 back in recent months.
It is believed the repayments have been made by members of Mr Kane’s family.
It is understood that the matter was never reported to police.
However in a separate development it has emerged that Mr Kane has been reported to the PSNI over allegations of fraud.
A spokesman for the PSNI last night said: “We have received a report of alleged fraudulent activity….enquiries are ongoing.”
It is understood the report was made by a Mid-Ulster businessman who had dealings with Mr Kane through the bank.
It has also emerged that Mr Kane featured in a previous court case involving the Bank of Ireland which was trying to recover money from a businessman.
During the case allegations were made that Mr Kane attempted produce false documents and attempted to mislead the court.
However in a High Court ruling last year a judge concluded that Mr Kane had given “his evidence in a straightforward manner" and "gave his testimony truthfully".
The judge also rejected any suggestion that “Mr Kane doctored the banks documents or produced false documents for the trial….”
It is not known if Mr Kane continues to be employed by the bank in Magherfelt. The Bank of Ireland last night declined to comment when contacted.
Confirmation of the police report came as fresh details of the missing Cushendall cash emerged.
The internal club report obtained by the Irish News details the full extent of the club’s losses.
Signed by chairman Brian Kearney and dated March 2016, the document reveals that £73,776 were “accepted by Patrick Kane as funds which have been misappropriated”.
The report also lists a series of "fictitious entries made in cash accounts as expenses" including a £12,000 cash payment made to country music star Nathan Carter.
Further entries included £2,904 for “Nathan Cater bar purchases paid cash” and £5,761 for “Nathan Carter stage hire paid cash”.
The popular music star played an open air concert in Cushendall, which was organised by the local hurling club, in August last year.
There is no suggestion Mr Carter had any knowledge of the fictitious entries.
The report also confirms that a club benefactor, believed to be a businessman based in England whose identity is known to the Irish News, donated £57,000 to the club over six separate payments between February 2012 and December 2015.
The report confirms that the largest payment of £30,000 was made in December last year.
“These are the funds Patrick Kane claimed as his own money,” the report says.
“He introduced the £30,000 into the club bank account as his own monies to reduce the amount of monies misappropriated.”
The missing cash revelations sent shockwaves through the Glens of Antrim club when details were made public in April and sparked an internal investigation.
One of the north’s best known hurling clubs, Cushendall were defeated by Limerick side Na Piarsaigh in the All-Ireland club final on St Patrick's Day.
In the run-up to the game it received high-profile support from Hollywood star Liam Neeson.
Club chairman Brian Kearney later said that donations received to support the club's All-Ireland campaign were accounted for.
Earlier this year the Antrim County Board said it wanted to meet the club after the issue was discussed at a management committee meeting.
A spokeswoman for the PSNI said: "We have not received any reports and as such there is currently no investigation."
