Solicitor jailed for €260k theft

A former solicitor who stole €260,000 from her clients over a three-year period has been jailed for a year.

Jacqueline Durcan, aged 47, a mother of five originally from Co Mayo, carried out the thefts after a series of “catastrophic” investments during the property boom.

Most of the money stolen was put back into the family practice, including paying for professional indemnity insurance, and €51,000 was used towards stamp duty for the purchase of her own home, the court heard.