Ex-solicitor Byrne jailed for 12 years after €52m fraud

Former solicitor Thomas Byrne has been jailed for 16 years with four suspended for stealing €52m from banks and defrauding 13 clients out of their houses or money.

Byrne was sentenced yesterday by Judge Patrick McCartan following a 27-day trial which concluded two weeks ago. It was the largest theft case to come before the courts in the history of the State.

Judge McCartan imposed a term of nine years for Byrne’s thefts from the banks and seven years for forging his employee’s signature as part of the fraud.