Courts / Tipperary / Report

'Cahir, you're a devil': top solicitor guilty of theft, perverting course of justice

Date
2024-11-15

Stage
Sentence

Primary locality
Cahir

Summary

Cahir O'Higgins, a prominent criminal defence solicitor, was found guilty by a jury of stealing €400 and attempting to pervert the course of justice on four counts. O'Higgins, 49, had pleaded not guilty to the charges, which related to events in 2016 and 2017. The trial heard that O'Higgins withdrew €600 from the bank account of Spanish national Raul Sanz Quilis, who had admitted to criminal damage in a Dublin District Court case. O'Higgins claimed he had permission to use Quilis's bank card and that he returned €400 to the defendant. However, Quilis testified that he was not aware of the withdrawal and that O'Higgins did not return the money. The jury found O'Higgins guilty on all five counts after deliberating for nearly five hours. Judge Martin Nolan remanded O'Higgins in custody and adjourned the case for sentencing on November 25. Cahir O'Higgins had the case struck out.

Who, what, where, when and why

What: Report matter: 'Cahir, you're a devil': top solicitor guilty of theft, perverting course of justice. Charges or matters: one count of the theft in July 2016 and four counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice in December 2017 by providing notes to gardai which he knew contained incorrect information. Procedural stage: sentence. Findings: Struck out

When:

July 2016 Other
December 2017 Hearing Or Sentence
November 25 Adjournment
July 30, 2016 Adjournment
December 8, 2017 Other
December 17, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
October 2016 Other
March 20, 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
2024-11-15 Publication

Why: He denied the defence's contention that he didn't want to return to Ireland because of his poor recollection and as he knew he'd been lucky to avoid a conviction. Defence account reported by CNI

Case subjects

Cahir O'Higgins

Convicted Person

Charges: one count of the theft in July 2016 and four counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice in December 2017 by providing notes to gardai which he knew contained incorrect information (Alleged Or Contested)

Plea: Not guilty

Finding: Struck out

Outcome: Struck out; Remanding O'Higgins in custody, Judge Nolan adjourned the case to November 25 next for sentence.; Remanding O'Higgins in custody, Judge Nolan adjourned the case to November 25 next for sentence.