Breifne O’Brien loses appeal over €8.5m deception sentence

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Breifne O’Brien’s appeal against his seven-year sentence for making a gain or causing a loss by deception or theft was dismissed by the Court of Appeal on 21 December 2015. He had pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 14 sample counts involving about €8.5 million advanced for bogus property deals.

The appeal court held that the sentencing judge had adequately considered mitigating factors, including O’Brien’s guilty plea and lack of previous convictions. The seven-year sentence imposed on 8 October 2014 was therefore upheld.