Courts / Wicklow / Report

'Quite a strange move': Michael Lynn trial hears of cancelled interviews, move to Brazil

Date
2023-12-09

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Redcross

County
Wicklow

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing on 9 December 2023, former solicitor Michael Lynn, aged 55, faced 21 counts of theft involving about €27 million from seven banks between October 2006 and April 2007. Retired Inspector Patrick Linehan, who led the investigation, explained that Gardaí had arranged interviews with Lynn in 2011, first in Portugal and later in London, but the meetings were cancelled because Lynn's solicitors were not all available. Lynn had moved to Brazil before the October 2011 interview, a fact Gardaí only learned after the interview was postponed. Linehan noted that Gardaí had monitored Lynn's movements via Interpol and had no extradition treaty with Brazil. He also said Gardaí had not received a direction from the Director of Public Prosecutions to charge Lynn while he was in Portugal. The unnamed accused pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Quite a strange move': Michael Lynn trial hears of cancelled interviews, move to Brazil. Charges or matters: 21 counts of theft in Dublin between October 23, 2006 and April 20, 2007. Procedural stage: trial

When: