Man charged with conning Letterkenny travel agent to fight his case

A man living in Spain is to stand trial for allegedly conning a Donegal travel agency out of almost €5,000 worth of stays in upmarket hotels.

A book of evidence is to be prepared in the case of barman Alan McDaid, aged 48.

The case of McDaid, with an address in Alcudia, Majorca, Spain, came before Letterkenny District Court on Monday.

He is charged with duping Liberty Travel from Letterkenny out of a total cost of €4,637 for four different hotel bookings.

The independent travel agency was left out of pocket after debit and credit cards belonging to two individuals were dishonestly used to pay for accommodation in Santorini, Majorca and London.

The transactions were later subject to chargeback which left Liberty Travel, of Riverside Retail Park, Letterkenny, at loss of €4,637.

The transaction included €1,254 for four nights at a five-star hotel in Santorini, Greece and €693 for one night at a five-star hotel in London.

Other charges were for a €1,556 four-night stay at a hotel in Majorca and a three-night visit to another hotel in Majorca valued at €1,134.

The charges, which relate to four separate dates in July and August 2017, are contrary to section 7 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.

Sergeant Jim Collins had previously told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had directed that the matters could be dealt with summarily in the District Court on a guilty plea only.

However, solicitor for the accused, Mr Donough Cleary, said the case is being contested.

Sergeant Collins asked the court to adjourn the case until October 14, 2024 to allow for the preparation of a book of evidence.

Mr Cleary asked if Gardai could notify his client if the book of evidence was ready by this date as his client lived abroad.

Legal aid was also granted to the accused.