Disgraced solicitor breaks down in tears

DISGRACED solicitor Thomas Byrne broke down crying in a witness box yesterday when telling how his mother’s family home had been used as collateral in some of his multi-million euro dealings.

Mr Byrne, who owes more than €40m to banks and who has been struck off the solicitors’ roll, was called before the High Court yesterday to explain his involvement in the alleged sale of his parents’ home at Walkinstown Drive, Dublin.

His mother, a ward of court, is seeking a declaration that the house belongs to her and, her lawyers say, the proceeds of any sale are needed to fund her care in a nursing home.

Ms Byrne’s lawyers have brought proceedings against a developer, John Kelly, who was involved in business dealings with Mr Byrne, and who claimed he was the rightful owner of the Byrne family home as he paid for it as part of a “basket of properties” which he bought.

Under questioning from Ms Byrne’s counsel, Mr Byrne said “my practice became his [Mr Kelly’s] private bank”. He said he became very frightened of Mr Kelly, especially when he “indicated he had friends in the INLA”. He said Mr Kelly would be regularly on the phone to him looking for money and Mr Kelly said he needed to raise money with AIB and “he was going to use my parents house as security”.

When asked who was the rightful owner of the family home, he began crying and said: “My mother Philomena Byrne.”

Mr Byrne said he could not answer questions in relation to deed of sale of the house on “legal advice that I might incriminate myself.”

Mr Kelly told the court yesterday regarding his dealings in relation to the Byrne parents’ home: “Thomas Byrne was my friend and he asked me to do something and I did it.”

After counsel from Ms Byrne, Michael Conlon BL, said the sides may be near agreement on what declarations the court can make in relation to the property, the judge adjourned the matter to Monday.