A man has appeared in court charged with allegedly conning a Donegal travel agency out of over €4,600 for stays in exclusive hotels.
Alan James McDaid appeared at Letterkenny District Court after being charged with duping Liberty Travel over four different bookings.
The independent travel agency was left out of pocket after debit and credit cards belonging to two individuals were dishonestly used to pay for accommodation in Santorini, Majorca and London.
The transactions were later subject to chargeback which left Liberty Travel, at Riverside Retail Park, Letterkenny, at loss of €4,637.
The transaction included €1,254 for four nights at a five-star hotel in Santorini, Greece and €693 for one night at a five-star hotel in London.
Other charges were for a €1,556 four-night stay at a hotel in Majorca and a three-night visit to another hotel in Majorca valued at €1,134.
The charges, which relate to four separate dates in July and August 2017, are contrary to section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
A 48-year-old, with a listed address in Alcudia, Majorca, Spain, McDaid was brought before Letterkenny District Court.
Detective Garda Bobby Carey gave evidence of arresting McDaid at 9.46am and charging him at 9.57am on April 22, 2024.
Carey made no reply when cautioned or charged.
Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) has directed that the matters can be dealt with summarily in the District Court on a guilty plea only.
Judge Éiteáin Cunningham adjourned the matter until July 22 and directed that disclosure of statements be sent to McDaid’s solicitor, Mr Donough Cleary.
Bail was granted to McDaid on condition that he reside at a given address and notify gardai of any change of address and that he be contactable by phone 24/7 and notify gardai of any change of phone number.
McDaid is to have no contact either directly or indirectly, including by social media or otherwise, with any witnesses in the case.
McDaid must not commit any offence and be of good behaviour and was ordered to have ‘no contact whatsoever’ with Liberty Travel.
