Man accused of duping Letterkenny travel agency to face trial

A man is to stand trial after allegedly conning a Donegal travel agency out of over €4,600 for stays in exclusive hotels.

Alan James McDaid appeared at Letterkenny District Court after being charged with duping Letterkenny-based Liberty Travel over four different bookings.

The independent travel agency claims it 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, at 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.

The 48-year-old, with a listed address in Alcudia, Majorca, Spain, was brought before Letterkenny District Court.

McDaid had previously been released on bail.

Garda Sergeant Gerard Dalton told Letterkenny District Court today that the Director of Public Prosecutions had recommended the accused go forward for trial at the next sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court.

The court begins its current court sitting on October 29, 2024.

McDaid's solicitor, Mr Donough Cleary requested one counsel for his client for the trial.

Judge Eiteain Cunningham applied the alibi warning and adjourned the case to the Circuit Court sittings.