A Wexford man extradited from Hungary for alleged embezzlement appeared in Gorey District Court yesterday charged with defrauding a local woman of more than €36,000.
Mr William Deegan (61), a former auctioneer and insurance broker, originally from New Ross, Co Wexford, faced two charges of "fraudulently converting" funds for his own benefit more than 10 years ago.
Sgt Bart Slattery of New Ross Garda Station said he arrested Mr Deegan at 9.30 p.m. on Wednesday at Dublin Airport on foot of two arrest warrants.
When cautioned, the defendant read a prepared statement, which went: "Had I known that there was a warrant out for me for these charges, I would have returned to Ireland immediately to answer the charges.
"I have no further comment to make in relation to these charges. Any further statement will be made by my counsel in the appropriate place."
Mr Deegan was charged with fraudulently converting on July 13th, 1992, a Bank of Ireland draft in the sum of £9,250 (€11,745) entrusted to him by Ms Marcella Irwin so he might apply the money to an investment for her benefit.
The second charge was fraudulent conversion on June 4th 1993 of £19,278.10 (€24,478) worth of a £23,428 AIB cheque entrusted to him by Ms Irwin.
The sergeant added he last interviewed Mr Deegan in April 1995, and the defendant subsequently left the Republic for Germany and later Hungary.
He said he understood Mr Deegan had left Germany before Interpol warrants could be executed against him.
Resisting bail, Mr Kevin O'Doherty, for the DPP, said he believed Mr Deegan was aware gardaí were looking for him for a number of years and there was a possibility of the defendant absconding.
But the defendant's solicitor, Mr Simon Kennedy, said his client had lived openly, and had been available to gardaí for interview.
Mr Kennedy said there was nothing covert about Mr Deegan's life, nor had anything covert been suggested other than that he went to Germany and had two passports, one Irish and one British.
Warning of "spin" in relation to the case, Mr Kennedy noted there had been "intense media attention", including a radio report that morning saying his client had fled the country allegedly owing up to £500,000.
Judge Conal Gibbons agreed with counsel it was "not uncommon" for people born in the Republic before 1948 to own a British passport, and that nothing sinister should be read into it.
The judge added he did not think it was correct to say Mr Deegan absconded from the jurisdiction. "He was a free man" at the time.
He granted bail subject to conditions including that Mr Deegan surrender his passports and sign on twice daily at a Garda station. Bail was set at €300, with an independent surety of €90,000, a third of which had to be lodged in cash with the court.
Legal aid was granted to the defendant who was remanded in custody with consent to bail to appear before New Ross District Court next Tuesday.
