Castlederg woman faces £1 million fraud charges
Thursday, 20 November 2008
A 56-year-old Castlederg woman has been charged with attempting to cheat businesses in Tyrone and Antrim out of more than £1 million over the past year and a half.
Celia Julia Holmes (56) of Crockett Park, Castlederg, faces 17 charges, including nine of fraud by false representation, one of handling property stolen in the Republic of Ireland and seven of obtaining services dishonestly.
She was remanded in custody when she appeared at Strabane District Court on Thursday last.
The most serious charge relates to making alleged false representation to purchase the Well Being health and beauty clinic in Sion Mills for £1 million.
She is charged with attempting to defraud another 10 companies in Tyrone out of tens of thousands of pounds.
She is also accused of several acts of deception in the County Antrim area to the sum of several thousand pounds.
The charge of handling stolen goods involves possessing a Del Laptop, which Holmes is accused of knowing was stolen in the Republic of Ireland on November 11 this year.
A Detective Sergeant told the Strabane court hearing he believed he could connect the accused to all of the alleged offences.
Her solicitor Canice McManus said he would not be making a bail application.
Ms McManus also said Holmes would be applying for legal aid, as she had no property or savings.
District Judge Liam McNally remanded Holmes in custody to appear by video-link at Strabane Magistrates Court again on December 4.
