A MAN accused of depriving investors of €177,000 was just a farmer who was a simple Bible-believer, his lawyer claimed in court. Witnesses said at Donegal Circuit Court yesterday that Thomas Elvin claimed he was connected to a $100 million back-up system when he persuaded them to invest.
Mr Elvin (50) of Meencargagh, Ballybofey, denies 26 counts of operating as an illegal investor on dates between 2003 and 2005 and of depriving people of their cash. The prosecution claims that one the companies he was involved with was a firm in the British Virgin Islands known as Pear Shaped Resources.
His counsel, Desmond Murphy SC, was cross-examining one witness when he observed: “Mr Elvin was a simple Bible-believing Christian trying to do the Lord’s work and he unfortunately fell prey to the evil one.” Mr Murphy said Mr Elvin had been linked to a man called Larry Marsella in Florida who worked for Pear Shaped Resources.
The trial continues.