Courts / Wicklow / Report

Michael Lynn tells trial he gave 'bonuses' to senior bankers

Date
2022-05-13

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Wicklow

County
Wicklow

Summary

Michael Lynn, a 53‑year‑old former solicitor, is on trial for the alleged theft of about €27 million from seven banks between 2006 and 2007. He has pleaded not guilty to 21 counts of theft. In court he defended his decision not to disclose alleged secret deals with senior bankers, claiming he had been prevented from meeting Gardaí in Portugal in 2008 and that translation issues delayed his extradition from Brazil, where he lived from 2011 to 2018. Lynn said he had given senior bankers "spending money" or bonuses of €5,000–€10,000 while travelling abroad, and that he had paid for flights and hotels for bankers such as Michael Fingleton and Maurice Ahern. He maintains he repaid banks monthly from 1997 and that he and his wife now rely on welfare and family support. The trial will resume next week before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Michael Lynn tells trial he gave 'bonuses' to senior bankers. Charges or matters: 21 counts of theft in Dublin between October 23, 2006 and April 20, 2007. Procedural stage: trial

When:

February 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
October 23, 2006 Hearing Or Sentence
April 20, 2007 Hearing Or Sentence
November 2007 Hearing Or Sentence
2008 and 2011 Other
2011 to 2018 Other
2022-05-13 Publication

Why: Mr Lynn replied that he initially resisted because his wife was pregnant and there was then an ongoing issue in relation to the translation of documents. CNI source report