Paul Downey, 62, a solicitor from Mount Royal in Banbridge has been charged at Banbridge Magistrates’ Court with stealing £73,844 from the deceased Catherine Hayes’ estate.
As well as being charged with theft, Mr Downey was also charged with four counts of false accounting and nine counts of fraud by abusing his position between 26th July 2013 and 4th April 2014.
It is alleged that Mr Downey wrote cheques between £11,000 to £17,000 to himself as well as transferring funds to himself and the office of Paul L Downey and Co.
The false accounting offences allege Downey “destroyed, defaced, concealed or falsified” cheque stubs.
The case was scheduled for a preliminary enquiry last week but it was adjourned due to “medical issues”, with Mr Downey, not attending court.
The defence counsel told District Judge Eamon King:
“There is a medical issue after papers were served last week; these are quite technical.”
The case has been adjourned until Monday 9th September 2019.
