A man who allegedly pretended to be a court welfare officer offering to get Patrick Gillane, husband of murder victim Philomena Gillane, out of prison for £5,000 was again remanded in custody when he appeared before Galway District Court yesterday.
Mr Bernard Hassett (52), from College Park, Athlone, Co Westmeath, is charged with attempting to defraud Mr Sean Duffy, Glenbrack, Gort, of £5,000 on May 10th last by falsely pretending he was a probation and welfare officer with the Department of Justice sent to obtain a £5,000 surety for the temporary release of Gillane.
Mr Hassett is also accused of defrauding Mr Patrick Forde, Currandulla, Co Galway, of £3,000 by pretending to be a representative of the Department of Justice and that he was going to have his son released from prison.
Mr Forde's son had been jailed following a traffic accident in which a young girl was killed.
Mr Hassett is further charged with handling £1,460 worth of stolen tyres and tools from a premises in Athlone in January 1998 and with entering another premises in the town and stealing £8,000. He is charged with stealing two cars in 1995, and with stealing more tools worth £1,325 from a garage in Gort last June.
A book of evidence in relation to some of the charges was served on Mr Hassett yesterday. Judge John Garavan remanded him in custody to January 17th.