Arrest warrant issued for Co Armagh woman now living in Scotland who failed to show up at Craigavon court to face fraud charges
An arrest warrant has been issued for a Co Armagh woman, who now lives in Scotland, after she failed to show up at court to answer fraud charges.
Brook Freeburn, aged 26, who lives at Brandoncourt, Motherwell, failed to appear before Craigavon Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
-
-
She is accused of fraud by false representation by submitting time sheets for hours she didn’t work between November 6, 2020 and February 15, 2021 causing a loss to her employer Keenan Healthcare Ltd.
She is also charged with forgery of time sheets between the same dates.
District Judge Michael Ranaghan said there were papers from North Lanarkshire Council regarding Probation reports.
“In a nutshell she has blown her chances with Probation,” he said, offering the defendant’s barrister, Mr Damien Halleron, sight of the documents.
Mr Halleron, instructed by JPH Law, said he didn’t need to. “It doesn’t surprise me if this is the case. Mr Hagan hasn’t been able to contact Ms Freeburn. She’s been written to, contacted by phone and there’s been no response. She’s been explained the likely outcome if she doesn’t engage with the process so we are in the court’s hands at this stage.
"The last response we had was two weeks ago where she said she was very overwhelmed and that was the height of the instructions we got at that stage,” he said.
District Judge Ranaghan asked that court staff call outside for the defendant but was told there was no response.
"You’ve done your best, Mr Halleron, but she’s not here and we need her here,” he said and issued a warrant for the defendant’s arrest.