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Updated 1.50pm
FORMER SOLICITOR THOMAS Byrne is to be sentenced this afternoon for 50 convictions including fraud, theft and deception.
The 47-year-old pleaded not guilty but was convicted by a jury in the country’s largest-ever fraud trial last month.
The evidence showed how Byrne fraudulently obtained properties from clients and associates and used them to secure loans totaling in excess of €50 million.
The 18 separate loan applications from various financial institutions ranged in value from €1 million to €9 million.
In falsely claiming ownership of the properties, Byrne falsified signatures in a number of cases, including those of at least two elderly women known to him.
The offences occurred between dates in September 2004 and 2007 when Byrne was solicitor based in Walkinstown.
Following the summation, Judge Patrick McCartan praised investigating gardaí for the way they presented the evidence in the six-week long trial.
“In particular the way you marshalled the evidence to be understood for everyone, including myself but especially the jury,” he told the court.
Sentencing will conclude this afternoon, with the charges of forgery carrying a maximum sentence of 10 years, fraud 10 years and theft five years.
Reporting by Rónán Duffy; first published 7.15am
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The biggest fraud in the state has yet to go to trial, Bank Guarantee and Anglo
What about how Sean Quinn was duped by Anglo.
No, he wasn’t !
That’s it Bryan listen to the government and Anglos version of events sure they wouldn’t lie to us would they
if he was not Golden can you explain why the wealthiest man in the country would take a gamble and invest all the finances available to him in a bust or broken bank.
Golden believes everything the government and Anglo tell him he’s an obedient little sheep
Lets hope he gets at least 10 years.
I’m right in thinking that’s the maximum sentence he can get
Great. At a cost of approx. 65k per year, that’s another two thirds of a million he’s going us. The guy has a law degree. I’d rather he were put to work for the state for free. We’d save the cost of at least one of the legal leeches working for nama or any of the other state agencies..
Wouldn’t really be trusting anything this leech says though in a legal capacity – best keep him well away from the law profession me thinks
€200 to the court poor box
Might get probation. They like to look after their own.
7yrs out in 4.
Give the man a break at least he tried I would give him a clap on the back and say don’t get caught next time
He’ll be dead in a few months once the lads get hold of him. He owes sine very dangerous people a lot of cash.
You wouldn’t be saying that if you were one of those he swindled, Denis.
I know where he buried MOOLAGH
5 years inside with 4 suspended and 6 months off for tUrning up and 6 months off for been a fellow of good standing, plus 9 k per month for the wife while inside
He’s a theif pure and simple. And if there was any real justice in this corruptly led country he’d recieve the same sentence that someone else would for committing such a crime had they been from a poorer inner city location or back round.
why did he deny all charges yet have a cock and bull story about being under duress by a shady developer?
Duress is a defence. I think I’m right in saying that he doesn’t deny the actions but he was attempting to make the case that he was not guilty by way of duress.
That’s not to say I believe him, I think he’s full of sh*t, and I don’t even think duress is open to him as it has to be at the fact and not of an overall more general effect. I just wanted to make the point that committing an act is not enough to make you guilty of most serious crime, there has to be a concurrent mental guilt worthiness.
Dee4 @ so would you if you were an agent of the court
He won’t be too pleased with prison attire. Never came across anyone with such bad taste in clothes.
Hard luck bud, hope he gets a light sentence
obvious troll is ovbious
1more time d&@k troll bac iv back.
Obvious troll with a picture worthy of r/cringepics
..a poor mans Michael Lynn.
He’ll get the waggy finger, the scamp… And then a “poor me” performance on the Late Late.
Fair enough he deserved the time he got, but one thing I can’t grasp is you get more for white collar crime than you would for any vicious sexual assault ? Now that I totally didn’t get !
16 years, 4 suspended, so 12 years; he’ll be out in 7 or 8 likely.
have your say