Farrier family arrested in £1m European Social Fund scam probe

May 9 2009 by Neil McKay, The Journal

Farrier family: Woodview House

FIVE members of a County Durham family have been charged with offences relating to a massive scam involving nearly £1m of European grants.

They are accused of defrauding the European Social Fund out of money handed out to help disadvantaged people in the region to find work.

It is alleged the money was used to benefit members of the Farrier family, who run two companies from an isolated property, Wood View House, a former pub on the outskirts of Cornsay Colliery, between Lanchester and Tow Law.

The five, all with involvement in the running of two County Durham-based companies, will each face charges of conspiracy to money-launder when they appear before Consett Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, May 19.

Police are said to have become suspicious after a tip-off from officials at Government Office North East (Gone).

The family at the centre of the investigation are 62-year-old Thomas Farrier; his wife Marie, 58, and daughters Melissa Tunney, 30; Melanie Farrier, 23; as well as the couple’s son-in-law James Tunney, 32.

Mr Farrier and his daughter Melissa, who are both directors of the companies, will each face two additional charges of fraud.

A total of eight people – five men and three women – were originally arrested following a series of raids on houses and company premises in the Durham City area in December 2007. The swoop followed a long-running investigation by specialist detectives from Durham Constabulary’s economic crime unit.

Det Insp Geoff Smith, who heads the unit, said: “We believe money has been used to buy land, houses, a vehicle and to finance building work.

“A large amount of cash is also thought to have been transferred abroad.”