Courts / Wicklow / Report
Disgraced ex-solicitor Michael Lynn's appeal to go to Supreme Court
Summary
Michael Lynn, a former solicitor convicted of stealing €18 million from Irish banks, is appealing to the Supreme Court to reduce his five‑and‑a‑half‑year prison term by crediting the four‑and‑a‑half years he served in Brazil's Cotel Prison. The Supreme Court will consider how remission for good behaviour, normally a 25 % discount in Ireland, should apply to time served abroad. Lynn was convicted on ten counts in February 2024 and sentenced by Circuit Court Judge Martin Nolan to 13 years, later reduced to 5 years 9 months after the Court of Appeal added three months for severity. The appeal focuses on whether the courts should aggregate his Brazilian imprisonment and apply remission for the entire period, rather than only time served in Ireland. The Supreme Court has allowed the challenge to proceed, noting no statutory formula exists for crediting time abroad. The outcome could increase or decrease his sentence.
Who, what, where, when and why
What: Report matter: Disgraced ex-solicitor Michael Lynn's appeal to go to Supreme Court. Charges or matters: 21 theft charges – the jury was unable to agree on the remaining 11 charges. Procedural stage: appeal. Findings: Convicted
When:
- February 2024 Hearing Or Sentence
- August 2013 Hearing Or Sentence
- March 2018 Hearing Or Sentence
- 2025-10-22 Publication
Case subjects
Appellant
Charges: 21 theft charges – the jury was unable to agree on the remaining 11 charges (Proven)
Finding: Convicted
Outcome: Convicted; While Lynn was given credit for time spent in custody abroad, the Supreme Court will hear arguments as to how the courts should account for remission that would be applied if a person were serving a sentence in Ireland. Following a trial before the Circuit Criminal Court Lynn was convicted by a jury on ten counts in February 2024 of theft contrary to section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001 and sentenced to five-and-a-half years' imprisonment.
Places mentioned
- Paul Neilan The Supreme Court
- Supreme Court
- Circuit Criminal Court
- The Circuit Court
- Court of Appeal
- The Supreme Court
- Brazilian prison
- Cotel Prison
Topics
Related court reports
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- Disgraced solicitor Lynn brings High court challenge over legal costs refusal
- DPP investigating if millions in assets linked to disgraced solicitor Lynn are benefits of crime
- Disgraced solicitor Lynn must provide financial statement for legal aid
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