A former honorary treasure of a Co Armagh church has appeared in court on £750,000 fraud charges.
Godfrey Ellis, of Clanconnel Gardens in Waringstown, is accused of transferring more than £643,637.31 from the account of Shankill Parish Church in Lurgan into his accounts within his own control on dates between July 26, 2011 and January 16, 2020.
He is also accused of making payments – in excess of £102,000 – on credit cards in his own name.
The 54-year-old, who made his first appearance at Craigavon Magistrates’ Court today (Wednesday), is further charged, on a date between January 1, 2020 and January 31, 2020, with reporting the bank balance of the parish to stand at £30,482 in credit, when in fact, the account was £38,847 in overdraft, with the intention, “by means of the abuse of that position to make a gain for yourself or another or to cause loss to The trustees of Shankill Parish Church”.
Ellis also faces a single charge of forgery in that February 9, 2020 forged a cheque purporting to be countersigned by another Trustee.
While none of the facts were heard in court, the prosecution submitted that based on the papers before the court there was a prima facie case to answer, to which District Judge Michael Ranaghan agreed.
Defence counsel made no contrary submissions.
Ellis will next appear in Craigavon Crown Court for an arraignment hearing – where he will enter a guilty or not guilty plea – on November 22.
He was released on his own bail of £500 until then.
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