Former Canada Life agent lodges guilty plea

A former Canada Life agent has lodged a signed plea of guilty in court in connection with charges for theft of approximately €800,000 from investors.

Martin Reilly, 58, with an address at Westside Estate, Togher, Co Cork appeared at Dublin District Court y on Wednesday.

The DPP had been directed that he should face trial at the higher level, in the circuit court.

Judge Anthony Halpin noted that Mr Reilly, who remains on bail, furnished the court with a signed plea of guilty to the charges.

The judge sent him forward on the signed plea to appear at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on April 24 next.

He had originally met officers from the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation (GBFI) by appointment in Dublin city-centre in February.

He was then charged with 80 counts of theft from multiple alleged injured parties by dishonestly appropriating various sums from funds entrusted to him for purpose of investing with Canada Life.

The offences are alleged to have happened in Co Louth from 2006 until 2011 when he worked as a tied agent for the company.

Det Garda Niamh Seberry gave evidence of the arrest and had told Judge Halpin the accused “made no reply to any of the charges”.

Mr Reilly has been told he must sign on at Togher Garda station every Monday and Friday, and he must inform gardaí if he intends leaving the jurisdiction or wants to change address.

Legal aid was granted at his first court hearing in February.