A 46-YEAR-OLD man who helped his brother obtain a loan by using the identity of a 92-year-old pensioner was told by a District Judge he was one of the most dishonest individuals he had ever dealt with at Fermanagh Court.

District Judge Liam McNally told Michael McCaffrey, 53 Carrowshee Park, Lisnaskea, he had an "atrocious record" and that his latest offence "wreaked of stupidity".

The court heard McCaffrey, who had a key to his pensioner neighbour's home, knew his brother, visiting him from Belfast, "hadn't a chance in hell" of getting a loan without photographic identification or some utility bills.

And that the only way of obtaining the loan was by pretending Vincent McCaffrey was George Lynn.

McCaffrey appeared in court last week to contest the matter.

Sinead Maguire, an agent for loans company, Provident, gave evidence that on September 2 last year, she had called with McCaffrey, a "trusted customer", at his home to collect a repayment.

She said while she was there he introduced her to "a friend" whom he said was George Lynn.

Ms Maguire said McCaffrey told her the man was interested in taking out a loan. And once she had obtained two utility bills (which gave the address next door to McCaffrey) as a means of identification, the loan was approved.

The agent told the court she returned later that day and the sum of �300 was handed over to McCaffrey's friend.

When she returned seven days later to collect the first repayment from 'Mr Lynn', she found there was no one at home.

When she called with McCaffrey he said Mr Lynn had moved "on up the street", but could not confirm his new address.

But when she called at the house next door a second time, an elderly man answered the door, who identified himself as Mr Lynn.

The court also heard from the Regional Security Manager for Provident, John Glenn who attended Carrowshee Park on October 7, 2011, after Ms Maguire had reported the incident.

He described how he went to Mr Lynn's house. But when no one was in, he knocked at the next door and McCaffrey answered. He identified himself as working for Provident.

"I asked if Mr Lynn lived next door and he said no, it was a young man. He didn't give any other details," Mr Glenn told the court.

Mr Glenn said he attempted to telephone the number that the man purporting to be Mr Lynn had supplied when applying for the loan.

He said the line went through to the voicemail of Vincent McCaffrey.

While in his car he noticed a taxi pull up outside Mr Lynn's house and an elderly man get out.

The man identified himself as George Lynn.

McCaffrey's defence barrister, Stephan Rafferty told the court it was his client's case that he had no idea his brother had applied for the loan in another name.

He told the court his client had introduced his brother to Ms Maguire using the phrase: "there's a man would like to speak to you" and at that, had left them to discuss the loan in the kitchen while he waited in the living of his home.

He argued that he had not been present at any point when his brother was filling in forms or when the money was handed over.

He said McCaffrey had not given Mr Glenn any details about Mr Lynn when he called because he wanted to protect his elderly next door neighbour of over 10 years.

Giving evidence himself, McCaffrey said he "liked to look out for" Mr Lynn.

"I used to go in and visit him and bring him his tea and that in his house every day," McCaffrey said.

But District Judge McNally said the fact that McCaffrey argued he had not introduced Vincent McCaffrey to Ms Maguire as his brother only served to strengthen the prosecution case.

"He was hiding the knowledge that this was not George Lynn," Mr McNally submitted.

Taking into account the fact that McCaffrey had access to the pensioner's home and any personal documentation in the house, Mr McNally said it was McCaffrey who supplied his brother with the necessary utility bills to apply for the loan.

"He knew that Vincent had no documentation or utility bills with him and that he had not a chance in hell of getting a loan without those documents. The only way of getting them was by pretending to be George Lynn.

Referring to McCaffrey's long record which includes burglary, theft, handling stolen goods, robbery, forgeries, deception and possessing drugs Mr McNally rejected the defence's suggestion that he would benefit from a pre-sentence report.

"The offence wreaks of stupidity," he told McCaffrey, "It was never gong to succeed." He sentenced McCaffrey to six months imprisonment, suspended for three years and ordered him to "refund every penny" taken from Provident.

"It is up to you to persuade your brother to assist you in that," he told McCaffrey.