Courts / Dublin / Report

Leading finance exec fails in bid to halt trial over alleged €1m fraud

Date
2021-12-10

Stage
Appeal

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

William Kiely, a 49‑year‑old former Director of Corporate Finance at Cantor Fitzgerald Ireland, was charged in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court with 15 counts of alleged property fraud under the Criminal Justice Theft and Fraud Offences Act. The alleged offences involved investors who wanted to invest in U.S. property between August 2008 and February 2013, with claims of losses ranging from €50,000 to €120,000 each and a total estimated defrauded amount of €750,000 to €1 million. Gardai began investigating in 2012, but Kiely was not charged until July 2019. He sought a judicial review to halt the proceedings, arguing that the delay breached his right to a fair trial. In March, High Court Justice Miriam O'Regan rejected the application. Kiely appealed to the Court of Appeal, where Justice George Birmingham dismissed the application today, stating a written judgment would follow.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Leading finance exec fails in bid to halt trial over alleged €1m fraud. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

August 2008 Other
February 2013 Other
July 2019 Hearing Or Sentence
2021-12-10 Publication

Why: In a written submission, lawyers for the appellant said that the "delay in proceedings is of such a magnitude that he is entitled to prohibition because he has moved on with his life". CNI source report