Byrne scared of ‘psychopath’ business partner

Former solicitor Thomas Byrne has described to a jury his former business partner John Kelly as a “psychopath” who forced him to become a property magnate against his will.

During a sixth day in the witness box yesterday, Mr Byrne told Remy Farrell, prosecuting, that Mr Kelly threatened to kill his 7-year-old daughter as part of a pattern of intimidation to force him to draw down €52m in loans on his behalf. Mr Byrne accepted he owned between 40 and 50 properties but said he bought all of these to use as collateral as loans for Mr Kelly.

He agreed with counsel that he was forced to become a “reluctant property magnate”. The accused said he had no interest in property or money himself and was acting under duress from Mr Kelly.