Retired Belturbet auctioneer faces larceny charges

A retired Belturbet auctioneer was returned for trial to the next sittings of Cavan Circuit Criminal Court on November 29 on a number of larceny charges amounting to hundreds of thousands of euros. Eugene McMorrow (68) from Bank Lane, Belturbet appeared before Judge Sean MacBride at Ballyconnell District Court last week. The charges allege that on a number of dates, including one which goes back to the years 1983 and 1984, at The Diamond, Belturbet, with intent to defraud, he obtained from two named persons, sums of cash, which included £46,000, £80,000, €202,700, £75,000, €116,400 and £40,000, and he falsely pretended that he was purporting to lodge the monies entrusted in him to a deposit account in the First National Building Society. The charges also allege that the monies were recorded in a deposit book, but never lodged to the Building Society and were retained by Eugene McMorrow. Detective Garda Paul Cullen gave evidence of arresting Mr McMorrow and he said that he made no reply after caution. He told Judge MacBride that Mr McMorrow turned up by appointment and all of the charge sheets were included in the book of evidence served on the defendant. The court heard from Garret Fortune, solicitor representing Mr Seamus Mallon solicitor, that Mr McMorrow was a pensioner and was a retired auctioneer in Belturbet. Judge Sean MacBride noted that the book of evidence had been served and that Detective Garda Cullen had given a sworn declaration of the service of the book of evidence before Peace Commissioner Mr R. Johnston. Judge MacBride gave the accused an alibi warning. He noted that Mr McMorrow had co-operated with the State. The judge granted Mr McMorrow legal aid and assigned a solicitor, one junior counsel and one senior consel to his defence. Nominal bail was fixed in his own bond at €500.