Courts / Dublin / Report
Former barrister jailed for stealing €235k from businessman
Summary
Patrick Russell, a former barrister aged 57, was sentenced to four years in prison, with the final 12 months suspended, for stealing €235,000 from businessman Paul O'Connell. Russell pretended to arrange the purchase of a warehouse in Co Kildare for O'Connell, using forged deeds and false documents to convince the victim to transfer €15,000 and €5,000 to a UK account and an account in his wife's name, and to pay an additional €215,000 to solicitors who believed the documents were genuine. The solicitors and O'Connell's family later reported the fraud to Gardaí. Russell pleaded guilty to the theft in March 2019 and had previously been struck off the bar in 2012 for professional misconduct. The judge noted Russell's limited criminal history, his cardiac condition, and his willingness to restore the stolen sum, but imposed a custodial sentence because he had not made tangible efforts to return the money. The €215,000 remains frozen in AIB.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Former barrister jailed for stealing €235k from businessman. Charges or matters: the theft of €215,000 from businessman Paul O'Connell at Anglesea St, Temple Bar in Dublin on July 23, 2015; theft in March 2019. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- July 23, 2015 Other
- March 2019 Other
- June 2019 Adjournment
- 2020-11-04 Publication
Why: Judge Greally said the case was deserving of a custodial sentence because Russell "had not made tangible efforts" to address the significant loss to the victim, apart from €2,000 which "came at the 11th hour". CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: the theft of €215,000 from businessman Paul O'Connell at Anglesea St, Temple Bar in Dublin on July 23, 2015; theft in March 2019 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: Passing sentence today, Judge Melanie Greally said that Russell had been acting in the capacity of a financial advisor and had built up a relationship of trust with Mr O'Connell. "He therefore committed a very substantial breach of trust," the judge said. She sentenced Russell to four years with final 12 months suspended on strict condition including that he engage with the Probation Service for 12 months and that the €2,000 be handed over to the garda for Mr O'Connell.; She said Russell "must have contemplated that there was a distinct possibility" that this would happen, given his previous profession, before she referred to the fact that the case had been adjourned a number of times.
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