After several delays, the fraud and false accounting case involving a former Fermanagh and Omagh District Council member, her husband, and another woman is moving forward. However, all three defendants are contesting the evidence presented by the Public Prosecution Service (PPS).

Bernice Swift (55) who held the Erne West seat for 18 years, and her husband Kevin Gabriel Martin (47) from Glenlevan Road, Derrygonnelly along with Roisin Conlon (47) from Landbrock Road, Newtownbutler are each charged with 14 counts of fraud by abuse of position and six counts of false accounting.

It is alleged the three defendants abused their positions acting against the financial interests of the Victims and Survivors Service by claiming cheques were paid out to persons for travel expenses and for goods and services including a residential stay in Armagh City Hotel, McPhillips Digital Media, Armagh Graphics, Fitzpatrick Fuels, Active Office Support, Office and Educational Supplies, and G&A Travel.

It is further alleged they furnished information or made use of a certain record or document required for accounting purposes knowing it was or might be misleading, false or deceptive namely receipts for a stay at the Armagh City Hotel and three stays at the Westport Hotel. 

There are also two counts for the same charges involving quotations allegedly produced as opposed to receipts for stays at Hodson Bay Hotel and the Four Seasons Hotel.

The offences are alleged to have occurred on various dates between November 27, 2018 and September 5, 2019.

A defence barrister told Dungannon Magistrates Court the prosecution evidence is to be challenged.

District Judge Francis Rafferty listed the matter for hearing on October 14 when it will be decided if there is sufficient evidence to return the accused for trial at Crown Court.

News originally broke of former independent councillor Bernice Swift’s arrest in November 2020 when police confirmed she and her husband had been detained on suspicion of fraud.

They were later released on bail.

When contacted at the time then-councillor Bernice Swift said: "I cannot comment on any alleged arrests. There remains an ongoing investigation."

Last year Ms. Swift shocked fellow councillors when she announced she would not be seeking re-election and was leaving the political scene to take on a new role.

In a departing speech to fellow councillors before the 2023 election Ms. Swift said: “My day has come. I have decided after 18 years of steadfast public service, where I have represented to the very best of my ability above and beyond, it is now time for me to do something new.

“To that end, I leave local government and politics, and will not seek re-election. I am going to embrace a new phase of life and it’s going to be a working life, 9-5, with the gratitude of being healthy, fit and well to do so, and I thank God for all my blessings into my life’s next chapter.”

She set out how she was first elected in 2005 for Sinn Féin, but “I resigned from the party over their policy position in providing political support and endorsing British policing in Ireland, which I was and remain opposed to. Thereafter I stood, liberated and shackle-free, as an Independent Republican, successfully proven by being elected on three different occasions by the very good people of Erne West.”

Ms. Swift was replaced on the ballot paper by Paul McGoldrick but he failed to retain the seat which was instead taken by Sinn Féin.