Convicted fraudster Patrick Maher failed to appear in court for the third straight day as he again faced five counts of fraud conviction.
The 55-year-old, whose previous excuses for not appearing in court included “strokes” and “stress”, claimed on the occasion to have suffered “a fall” before his scheduled court appearance.
Maher – who held the role of “joint secretary” in the Careysfort Assets Estates Limited of alleged mortgage scammer Catriona Carey – was due to be convicted of the charges in Wexford Circuit Court on Thursday.
The five counts breach Section 6 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 and each carry a maximum sentence of five years in prison.
Maher had missed his two previous scheduled court appearances and before his case was called on Thursday, it was confirmed he would again fail to appear.
Just before 4 p.m., Attorney Jordan Fletcher stood up and told Judge Martin Nolan that he had just received a text about Mr. Maher.
“I’ve just had a text message saying Mr Maher fell at Busaras and is on his way to hospital,” Mr Fletcher told the court
“I don’t have a medical report,” he added.
Judge Martin Nolan – who said on November 30 he intended to proceed with the sentencing on Thursday after a “stressed out” Patrick Maher was absent from court on that occasion – asked the Garda, who are prosecuting the case, to come forward.
“Do you know Mr. Maher?” Judge Nolan asked Detective Garda Martin Brauders.
Detective Garda Brauders replied, “I do.”
‘Is he a Wexford man?’ asked the judge.
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Catriona Carey leaves Kilkenny District Court. Image: Mark Condren
Catriona Carey leaves Kilkenny District Court. Image: Mark Condren
“He’s not, Judge,” the detective replied.
“He’s originally from Dublin but has lived in Wexford for a number of years.”
When asked if he had an opinion on Maher’s recent excuse not to appear in court, Det Brauders replied, “I’m not surprised.”
Judge Nolan then adjourned the case again.
Maher was previously scheduled for sentencing on October 7.
On that occasion, Judge John McHugh described Maher’s failure to attend his court appointments for medical reasons as “recurring,” adding, “I will certainly request a note from the doctor on future occasions.”
Judge McHugh issued the warning after Maher’s attorney, Ed King, told the court he could not attend the hearing because he “had a series of strokes over the past 12 months and should see a neurologist.”
Despite Maher’s apparent ill health, it was previously reported how he started a new real estate company – less than three weeks after failing to appear in court on October 7.
Maher’s co-director at the new firm is John Steadmond – the man identified by RTÉ as the “fake lawyer” taking calls from desperate clients
Careysfort Assets Estates Limited when trying to get their money back.
Company documents made available to this newspaper show the pair’s new company, J, P&P Properties, was incorporated on 25 October with an address at The Square, Ashford, Wicklow.
Among the charges Maher faces are four counts of extorting funds by preparing false mortgage applications and one count of enticing a woman out of her car.
Maher was Co-Secretary of Careysfort Asset Management in the UK in December 2021, having been appointed to the same role at an Irish-registered version of the company two years earlier.
The company is now at the center of an €800,000 fraud probe after dozens of indebted homeowners were scammed with promises of non-existent loan buybacks.
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/catriona-careys-ex-business-partner-misses-court-for-third-time-after-fall-in-bus-station-42218480.html Catriona Carey’s ex-business partner misses court date for third time after ‘falling’ at bus station
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