A Portadown man charged with fraudulent abuse of his late uncle’s finances has been sentenced to a 12-month custodial sentence suspended for two years.
Rodger Magee (54) was accused of mismanaging his relative’s pension and savings while he was admitted to a nursing home in Portadown after suffering health complications.
His relative was aged in his late 80s at the time of his nephew’s offending and has since passed away.
Following a comprehensive investigation by police, supported by the South Health and Social Care Trust, Magee was convicted of fraud by false representation, fraud by failing to disclose information and fraud by abuse of position at Craigavon Crown Court today, Monday, September 29.
Concerns over the older man’s finances were investigated by the health trust in November 2019. Debt had been building after nursing home fees totalling almost £3,500 were going unpaid.
Magee, who had a previous clear criminal record, had enduring power of attorney for his uncle and had undertook to make these payments from his uncle’s accounts.
Detective Inspector Peter MacCionáoith of PSNI Organised Crime Branch said: “This became a police matter in June 2020 when it was also discovered that there were unauthorised withdrawals from the man’s bank accounts and a failure to disclose full details of his income which had resulted in the nursing home fees being calculated at a lower rate.
“These bank statements revealed that there were in excess of £15,000 in unexplained debits from this bank account between 1st June 2018 and 19th February 2020.”
Magee had also moved into his uncle’s former home and had been using his relative’s bank account to pay for oil and electricity.
Detective Inspector MacCionáoith concluded: “Being granted power of attorney is a major, legal responsibility and one which should be undertaken with care and consideration.
“In this case, this man was trusted by his family member to act in his best interests and manage his finances when he was at his most vulnerable. He failed to honour this trust and exploited his uncle’s finances to his own gain.
“Our priority within the PSNI is to safeguard vulnerable people in our communities. If you have any concerns on how a power of attorney is being used or misused, please call us on 101. We will listen and we will act. Any abuse of that trust will be treated with the utmost seriousness and, as this case shows, may result in a criminal conviction.”
Police can contacted on 101 or 999 in an emergency. You can also submit a report online using the non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org
