Courts / Dublin / Report
'Overwhelmed' solicitor gets suspended sentence for theft and forgery
Summary
Raphael Gilmore, a 53‑year‑old solicitor from Dundela Haven, Sandycove, Dublin, pleaded guilty in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of false instruments between August 2017 and November 2018 and to theft in July 2016, having stolen €28,000. An audit by the Law Society in 2017 revealed a deficit in a client account; Gilmore responded by forging an accountancy document and a bank statement, which the court found to be obvious forgeries. Four clients had given him money to pay stamp duty, but he retained the cash to cover the shortfall and never paid the duty. He claimed he was "in dire straits" and that his mismanagement and inability to run his practice led to the offences. The judge described the acts as "acts of desperation", noted Gilmore's lack of prior convictions and remorse, and imposed a two‑year suspended sentence on strict conditions, with no immediate custodial term.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: 'Overwhelmed' solicitor gets suspended sentence for theft and forgery. Charges or matters: possession of false instruments on dates between August 2017 and November 2018 and to theft in July 2016. Procedural stage: sentence
When:
- August 2017 Incident
- November 2018 Incident
- July 2016 Incident
- 2025-05-19 Publication
Why: Gilmore retained the cash in order to make up the shortfall in a client account and never paid their stamp duty. CNI source report
Case subjects
Defendant
Charges: possession of false instruments on dates between August 2017 and November 2018 and to theft in July 2016 (Admitted)
Plea: Guilty
Outcome: He accepted that since Gilmore has now been struck off it would be difficult for him to obtain employment, before he added that it was not a case for an "immediate custodial sentence". Judge Nolan imposed a two-year sentence, which he suspended in full on strict conditions.
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