Trial required over fraudulent medical service claims

Two doctors and a secretary will require a jury trial for a combined total of 137 counts of theft and possession of false documents relating to fraudulent medical services claims.

Waqas Farooqi (46) of Belvedere Hills, Mullingar, Westmeath; Muhammad Azam (59), of The Rocks, Stonepark, Longford; and Gillian McCord (56), of Knockanboy, Longford, all appeared before Judge Kenneth Connolly at a sitting of Longford Circuit Court.

The court heard that a trial date would need to be fixed in the case of all three accused, and that the trial was expected to take four weeks.

The three accused face a combined total of 137 charges, including theft and using false general medical services claims or out-of-hours payment forms.

Those false claims related to 12 different patients at the Primary Care Reimbursement Services, Exit 50, North Road, Finglas, Dublin 11.

Dr Azam faces a total of 48 charges, Dr Farooqi faces 47 charges, and a total of 42 charges are brought against Ms McCord.

It is alleged the trio used false medical documentation to indicate that patients had received medical services. Dr Azam and Dr Farooqi were also charged with multiple counts of money laundering at locations within the state between October 2017 and December 2019.

Judge Connolly made the order that any outstanding disclosure sought on behalf of each of the three accused be sought in writing by the defence within four weeks. The state will have six weeks thereafter to respond.

All three accused were remanded on continuing bail to July 7, 2026.