A County Fermanagh woman has denied charges of fraud and false accounting relating to timesheets submitted to a nursing recruitment agency.

Holly McGahan, 45, of Knockinny Road, Derrylin, appeared at Newry Magistrates Court and pleaded not guilty to eight charges. The charges include five counts of false accounting and three counts of fraud by false representation.

The alleged offences are said to have occurred between March 6 and October 10 2024. It is alleged that on five occasions McGahan falsified a timesheet required for accounting purposes by Axis Nursing Agency. She is further accused of falsely claiming she had worked and was entitled to be paid for hours entered on timesheets on three occasions, intending to make a gain for herself and cause loss to the agency.

No details surrounding the circumstances of the alleged offences were disclosed during the brief hearing, and the role McGahan carried out with the agency was not stated. She spoke only to confirm her identity and enter pleas of not guilty.

Deputy District Judge Brian Archer adjourned the case until October 26, when a contest date is to be fixed.

Axis Nursing Agency is based in Belfast and recruits nurses, healthcare assistants, allied health professionals, primary care staff and social care support workers for clients across Northern Ireland. It supplies staff to three Health and Social Care Trusts and the NI Prison Service.