A FORMER All-Ireland winner has been ordered to stand trial accused of stealing over £500,000 from his employer.
John Malachy McGurk, an accountant, was charged with a single count of theft by employee in that he allegedly stole £572,206 from his employers at Kilrea quarry Patrick Bradley Ltd when he appeared in Coleraine magistrates court today.
Mr McGurk, who won an All Ireland title with Derry in 1993 and who is from Oakland Crescent in Knockloughrim, Magherafelt, was further charged with 36 counts of committing fraud by abusing the position he held within Patrick Bradley Ltd to lodge various sums of money into his own Bank of Ireland savings account with all of the offences alleged to have occurred on various dates between 1 July 2006 and 31 December 2011.
Although no facts surrounding the fraud were opened in court, a prosecuting lawyer declared there was a prima facie case against Mr McGurk based on the legal papers before the court, a submission his defence solicitor took no issue with.
The court clerk told Mr McGurk that, while he was not obliged to, he had the right to give evidence to the preliminary enquiry or call witnesses on his behalf but that anything said would be written down "and maybe given in evidence at your trial".
The 49-year-old opted to remain silent.
Releasing Mr McGurk on his own bail of £750, District Judge Liam McNally granted legal aid and ordered him to appear before Antrim crown court on November 19 for arraignment.
In the 1980s and nineties, Mr McGurk played as a half back for Derry GAA, winning four Derry titles, two Ulster titles and one All-Ireland title.
He won an All Stars Award for his performances in the 1993 championship and he captained Lavey to the All-Ireland Senior Club Football Championship in 1991.
