Man bailed over council expenses fraud

A MAN has appeared in court in connection with 117 charges relating to alleged fraudulent expense claims from Mayo County Council over a six-year period.TOM SHIEL

Architect Tom Gilboy (46), Mountgregory, Castlebar, is charged with dishonestly obtaining €63,000 from the council, his former employer, between 2002 and 2008 by forging signatures on travel and subsistence documents.

Mr Gilboy, who was arrested at 8.30am yesterday at The Mall, Castlebar, by Det Garda Eddie McLoughlin, appeared before Judge John Coughlan at Castlebar District Court.

Det Garda McLoughlin gave evidence that after each charge was read to him, Mr Gilboy replied: “No comment.”

State solicitor for Mayo Vincent Deane told the court the Director of Public Prosecutions had directed a trial by indictment, which means the case will be heard in the Circuit Court.

Judge Coughlan returned the case to Kiltimagh Court on December 17th for service of the book of evidence.

Tom Walsh, for Mr Gilboy, said his client was seeking legal aid as he was now unemployed. He was remanded on bail.

In a statement, the council said the charges had resulted from a Garda investigation carried out at the request of the local authority