Michael Lynn theft trial hears colleague deny complicity in multiple loans

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

Michael Lynn’s trial on 21 theft counts was continuing before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury. The proceedings were reported on 5 April 2022.

Lynn pleaded not guilty to the 21 counts. He was accused of stealing about €27 million from seven financial institutions in Dublin between 23 October 2006 and 20 April 2007. The prosecution case was that he obtained multiple mortgages on the same properties when the banks did not know other institutions were also providing finance.

On 5 April, former solicitor Fiona McAleenan rejected defence counsel Paul Comiskey O'Keeffe’s suggestion that she knew multiple loans had been taken out on the same properties between 2006 and 2007. Asked about the suggestion that she was complicit, she said she was “horrified and disgusted”.

Comiskey O'Keeffe put it to McAleenan that messages asking her for updates on the drawdown of funds for an investment property showed she was involved in conveyancing. She denied this and said she did not know why legal executive Elizabeth Doyle had repeatedly sent her the messages.

During re-examination, prosecuting counsel Patrick McGrath said the Law Society had investigated the firm in 2008, including multiple undertakings and mortgages. He said no complaint had been made against McAleenan, which she confirmed. She also agreed that she had not been criticised over the signing of undertakings. The trial was due to resume.