Courts / Dublin / Report

Breifne O'Brien granted extension of time to appeal prison sentence for deception and theft involving millions of euro

Date
2015-05-14
Stage
Appeal
Primary locality
Dublin
County
Dublin

Summary

Breifne O'Brien, a 54‑year‑old former businessman, was granted an extension of time to appeal his seven‑year prison sentence. He had pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to 14 counts of deception that caused a loss of about €8.5 million between 2003 and 2004, after inducing people to advance money for bogus property deals. Judge Patricia Ryan imposed the sentence on 8 October 2014. In the Court of Appeal, counsel Patrick McCullough BL applied for the extension, noting that O'Brien had been outside the 28‑day period for filing an appeal and had not been present in court. The judge, Mr Justice George Birmingham, agreed to grant legal aid on the same terms as the Circuit Court and to extend the time to file the notice of appeal, giving O'Brien two weeks if he had not yet filed it. No legal aid application had been made to the Circuit Court judge for the appeal.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Breifne O'Brien granted extension of time to appeal prison sentence for deception and theft involving millions of euro. Charges or matters: 14 sample counts of making a gain or causing a loss by deception of around €8.5m between 2003 and 2004. Procedural stage: appeal

When:

Case subjects

Breifne O'Brien

Appellant

Charges: 14 sample counts of making a gain or causing a loss by deception of around €8.5m between 2003 and 2004 (Alleged Or Contested)

Outcome: Photo: Collins) Former businessman Breifne O'Brien has been granted an extension of time to appeal his prison sentence for inducing people to advance millions of euro to him to invest in bogus property deals. He was sentenced to seven years imprisonment by Judge Patricia Ryan on October 8 2014.

Places mentioned

Residence
Court Venue
  • Dublin
  • Dublin Circuit Criminal Court
  • Court of Appeal

Topics

Fraud Stage Appeal Theft

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