Retired principal guilty of school meals deception

A RETIRED secondary school principal has pleaded guilty to obtaining monies by deception under the Department of Social and Family Affairs school meals scheme.

John Gallagher, Cloonfinane, Swinford, the former head of Scoil Muire agus Padraig, Swinford, appeared before Judge Rory MacCabe at a sitting of the Circuit Criminal Court in Castlebar today (Friday).

Mr. Gallagher (69) pleaded guilty to three counts of deception relating to the school years 20006/07, 2007/08 and 2008/09.

He will be sentenced on Friday next by Judge MacCabe.

At today's brief hearing, Mr. Brendan McDonagh, B.L., asked that the matter of sentencing be dealt with as speedily as possible.

Mr. McDonagh stressed to the court that Mr. Gallagher did not make any personal gain from the deception.