17/06/2005

Pensioner walks free after Mass card scam

A Londonderry pensioner who defrauded people out of thousands of pounds by selling more than 23,000 forged Mass cards has walked free.

Denis Frazer, 65, from Derry who had denied the charges, was given a two-year suspended jail sentence.

He sold forged Mass cards for £1 each to five elderly people who innocently sold the cards on to those who were bereaved.

Mass cards are normally signed by a priest and are sent to bereaved families.

At Derry Crown Court, Judge Desmond Marrinan said there was a “loss of spiritual dimension” and said Mr Frazer didn’t have any insight into the depth of hurt he had caused.

The judge did not impose a custodial sentence because of Frazer's and his wife’s ill health.

(CD/SP)

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