A County Down solicitor appeared in court on Monday accused of abusing his position to commit fraud.
Appearing at Lisburn Magistrates’ Court by videolink from his defence solicitors office, 66-year-old David Greene confirmed he was aware of the two charges against him and that he did not object to the Preliminary Enquiry, the legal process necessary to elevate any case to the Crown Court.
Greene, from Drumaknockan Lane in Hillsborough, faces two charges of fraud by abusing his position in Greene and Malpas solicitors on dates between 30 April 2007 and 29 June 2011.
The first count accuses Greene of committing fraud “in regard to funds held by you in the Greene & Malpas Clients Account” while the second charge alleges that he abused his position “in regard to £12,000 paid to you on 1st April 2009 to pay Stamp Duty, with the intention, by means of the abuse of that position to make a gain for yourself or another or to cause loss to William McCann and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs.”
None of the facts surrounding the charges were opened in court but a prosecuting lawyer submitted there was a Prima Facie case against Greene, a submission conceded by defence counsel Joel Lindsay.
Greene, a former UUP councillor who once stood for election in 1992 as a Conservative Party candidate, was offered the opportunity to comment on the charges and to call evidence on his own behalf but he declined.
Freed on continuing bail, Greene was ordered to appear before Craigavon Crown Court for his arraignment on March 1.
