Courts / Wicklow / Report

Key witness in Michael Lynn trial 'horrified and disgusted' by defence suggestions

Date
2022-04-05
Stage
Trial
Primary locality
Wicklow
County
Wicklow

Summary

During the sixth day of Michael Lynn's multi‑million euro theft trial, former solicitor Fiona McAleenan testified that she was "horrified and disgusted" by defence counsel Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe's suggestion that she had knowingly facilitated multiple mortgages on the same properties between 2006 and 2007. McAleenan denied any partnership or conveyancing role at Michael Lynn & Co Solicitors, stating she had never been involved in the signing of undertakings. The prosecution argued that Lynn obtained the mortgages while banks were unaware of other institutions' involvement. Court documents revealed text messages from Lynn's legal executive, Elizabeth Doyle, to McAleenan, which the defence used to imply conveyancing activity. McAleenan said she was not involved and questioned why Doyle sent the messages. Judge Martin Nolan clarified the defence's line of questioning, and the prosecution noted that the Law Society's 2008 investigation found no complaint against McAleenan, only against Lynn, who was struck off as a solicitor in May 2008.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Key witness in Michael Lynn trial 'horrified and disgusted' by defence suggestions. Procedural stage: trial

When:

Why: She said she was told to do this by Mr Lynn and that she never discussed this with Ms McAleenan because Mr Lynn had said he would speak with Ms McAleenan about it. CNI source report

Case subjects

Unnamed accused

Accused

Places mentioned

Residence
Secondary Mention

Topics

Stage Trial Theft

Related court reports

Read the original CNI report

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