Gerald Corrigan: Crossbow murder victim ‘conned’ out of £200,000 in years before death, court told

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Gerald Corrigan, 74, and his partner, Marie Bailey, 67, befriended Richard Wyn Lewis in 2015 and in the following four years paid out thousands of pounds which they believed was for property developments, land sales and horses, Mold Crown Court was told on Monday. “Throughout this time people lost their money and Wyn Lewis dishonestly kept it.” He said Mr Corrigan and Ms Bailey met Mr Lewis, 50, in 2015 and came to regard him as a “good and trusted friend”. He said: “The whole thing was a sham, a complete con, which cost Gerry Corrigan and Marie Bailey many thousands of pounds.” The couple also paid thousands of pounds to Mr Lewis for horses which he claimed to have bought for them, the court heard. “He apparently told Wyn Lewis at the time ‘there is no more money’.” Analysis of the couple’s bank accounts showed extra withdrawals of £170,000 from the time they met Mr Lewis, which added to the £50,000 bank transfer by Ms Bailey would make a total of £220,000, Mr Rouch said.