An elaborate mortgages fraud where Bank of Ireland was scammed for almost €1m saw six people get suspended jail sentences yesterday. The man who orchestrated the fraud jumped bail and is being sought by gardaí.

Seven people were arrested yesterday on different charges related to an alleged mortgages fraud amounting to a total of almost €1m against Bank of Ireland.

Free legal aid was granted yesterday to former Fianna Fáil councillor Gary O’Flynn to defend the case against him on charges of soliciting someone to murder three people.

A chartered accountant who admitted stealing money from clients and engaging in an accountancy practice known as teeming and lading was given a four-year suspended jail sentence yesterday for the theft of €162,000.

The case against a former Fianna Fáil councillor Gary O’Flynn on charges of soliciting somebody to murder a detective and two others was adjourned yesterday for preparation and service of a book of evidence.

The Sun newspaper, it was claimed yesterday, will effectively pay for legal representation for former Fianna Fáil councillor Gary O’Flynn on charges of soliciting a person to murder a detective garda and two other people.

A former politician has been refused bail after he appeared in court accused of attempting to hire someone to murder a detective, an accountant and a tax official.