Gardaí investigating theft and fraud arrest ex-solicitor Byrne

Struck-off solicitor Thomas Byrne has been arrested today in connection with allegations of deception and theft.

Fraud squad officers detained the disgraced solicitor who is alleged to owe more than €40m to financial institutions and former clients.

Mr Byrne’s practice in Walkinstown was shut down by the Law Society in late 2007.

He was struck off the solicitors’ roll the following year by order of the High Court after it emerged he took out multiple mortgages on the same property from a number of lenders.

A garda spokesman said members of the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation examining allegations of deception and theft from several financial institutions and individuals arrested a man in his 40s in the Dublin area this morning.

He is being detained at Irishtown Garda Station under Section 4 of the Criminal Justice Act 1984 as amended.