Financial adviser on trial for deception

A solicitor and financial adviser has been put on trial on charges related to the alleged theft of thousands of euro made by two people who turned to him for advice on dealing with repaying their debts.

Gary O’Flynn, aged 38, of Hayfield Drive, Castle Court, Whitechurch, Co Cork, pleaded not guilty at Cork Circuit Criminal Court to 21 sample charges of financial deception, against a background where one man was at a loss of €6,375 and a woman was at a loss of €2,000.

The first witness was former builder Eric Higgins, who had debts to Bank of Scotland and Friends First and court judgments against him in relation to those debts. He got a letter from a company called Debt Assist, rang them and met Mr O’Flynn there.