THERE is “no disputing” the guilt of a former treasurer of a top Co Antrim GAA club, a court heard yesterday.
Patrick Kane (47), from Ardmoyle Park in Cushendall, was due to be arraigned on five fraud charges at Antrim Crown Court yesterday but defence counsel Joe Brolly asked for that to be adjourned
He told Judge Melody McReynolds while there is “no disputing the defendant’s guilt, there are technical issues that have to be addressed.”
Kane faces four charges of committing fraud by abusing the position he held as treasurer for Ruari Óg GAC in Cushendall and a further allegation of false accounting, all alleged to have been committed on various dates between 1 September 2009 and 1 May 2016.
One of the top clubs in Co Antrim, Ruari Óg has won several Antrim and Ulster hurling titles and on St Patrick's Day, 2016, they lost out in the All-Ireland Senior Club Hurling Championship final at Croke Park.
While none of the facts have been opened in court, the particulars of the charges allege that Kane “falsely represented that payments were made to suppliers in cash,” claimed that cheques from benefactors were in fact his own funds, claimed that cheques were being legitimately used to pay for club costs but made them out “to cash” while others were made out to A. Kane and paid into his account.
The charge of false accounting alleges that Kane “destroyed, defaced, concealed or falsified a certain account record or document, namely a Danske Bank statement for Ruairi Óg Gaelic Athletic Club, showing a balance of £75,896.10 which had been made or required for an accounting purpose.”
Mr Brolly said he hoped the arraignment could proceed next Tuesday.
