Courts / Dublin / Report

Invoice sent by ex-rugby star had home address crossed out, €570k theft trial hears

Date
2024-10-18

Stage
Trial

Primary locality
Dublin

County
Dublin

Summary

In a Dublin Circuit Criminal Court hearing, former McCann Fitzgerald solicitor Rosie Freeman testified that she received a couriered invoice from Bank of Ireland Private Bank in March 2013 with handwritten amendments. Freeman, who was a PA to partner Roddy Bourke, described the invoice as unusually altered: the original home address of former rugby star Brendan Mullin was crossed out and replaced with the bank's address, the description of the work was changed to "Quantum Investment Strategies," and amounts were reduced to €18,792.65. Freeman said she was alarmed by the markings and could not comply because a partner's signature was required. She also recounted a voicemail from Mullin and a handwritten note instructing her to amend and issue the invoice. The testimony is part of the prosecution's case that Mullin authorised payments to McCann Fitzgerald, Grant Thornton and Beechwood Partners for work carried out for his company or personally. Brendan Mullin pleaded not guilty.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: Invoice sent by ex-rugby star had home address crossed out, €570k theft trial hears. Charges or matters: one count of stealing €500,000 from Bank of Ireland (BOI) Private Bank, Mespil Road, Dublin 4 on December 16, 2011, along with eight other counts of stealing various amounts of money amounting to just over €73,000 from the bank on various dates; one count of deception and five counts of false accounting. Procedural stage: trial

When:

March 2013 Incident
February 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
October 2012 Other
October 2, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
November 20, 2012 Hearing Or Sentence
December 16, 2011 Other
July 2011 Incident
2010 and 2013 Other
2024-10-18 Publication

Case subjects

Brendan Mullin

Accused

Charges: one count of stealing €500,000 from Bank of Ireland (BOI) Private Bank, Mespil Road, Dublin 4 on December 16, 2011, along with eight other counts of stealing various amounts of money amounting to just over €73,000 from the bank on various dates; one count of deception and five counts of false accounting (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty