INSURERS FOR a Belfast solicitor at the centre of a major fraud inquiry have agreed to pay out more than £270,000 (€343,000) to six health trusts.
The settlement reached in an action taken against the late George Brangam was revealed at the Northern Ireland High Court yesterday. Mr Brangam, who died last summer, was under investigation for alleged dishonesty in his dealings with a series of health authorities. His assets were frozen and his practising certificate revoked while an investigation was carried out by the Law Society.
Following a lengthy legal process lawyers for the six authorities involved confirmed yesterday that the cash they lost is to be repaid in full.
The biggest payout, of just over £120,000, will go to the Causeway Health and Social Services Trust, for which Mr Brangam's now defunct firm of solicitors provided services. Causeway staff are believed to have first identified the alleged irregularities which led to the High Court proceedings.
Another £108,000 is to settle a case taken by the Northern Health and Social Services Board, while smaller sums will be received by trusts at South and East Belfast, the Royal, Mater and Ulster Hospitals. There is no suggestion that anyone other than Mr Brangam was involved in the alleged fraud.