The former director of a County Fermanagh playgroup has appeared in court on charges of alleged fraud and false accounting in relation to theft of almost £8000.

Martin Cox (40) from Hillcrest, Enniskillen is accused of 16 offences comprising five counts each of fraud by false representation and fraud by abuse of position.

There are also four counts of making or supplying articles for use in fraud and single counts of false accounting and theft.

Offending is alleged to have occurred on various dates between October 2018 and December 2022.

It is contended Cox dishonestly made a number of cash transfers ranging from £750 to £5000 to cause loss to Tiny Tots Cross Community Playgroup and gain for himself.

It is further alleged he made a number of articles namely an email address, an invoice and a false email conversation each of which had been designed or adapted for use in the course of fraud.

Finally, Cox is charged with stealing £7838 cash from the playgroup accounts.

No details surrounding the circumstances of the alleged offending were disclosed during the short hearing before Enniskillen Magistrates Court where a police officer aware of the facts of the case confirmed charges could be connected.

District Judge Alana McSorley remanded him on continuing bail to return to court on 19 March.

According to records the playgroup was first incorporated as a company in May 2006 and lists activity as “pre-school education”.

Cox became a director in 2018 and resigned in 2022.