DPP investigates €2.8m in accounts linked to Lynn
Prosecutors to examine if assets are benefits of ex-solicitor’s crimes
THE Director of Public Prosecutions is investigating whether assets linked to former solicitor Michael Lynn are the benefits of crime relating to his €18million bank thefts.
Dublin Circuit Criminal Court heard yesterday the DPP is formally initiating the process of investigating Lynn’s assets, including three bank accounts with €2.8million the prosecution believes is linked to him.
There is also a house in Wicklow purchased by a corporation which is believed to be ‘strongly’ linked to Lynn.
The DPP is also investigating if €3million in assets confiscated by the Portuguese authorities are linked to the crimes for which he was convicted, the court heard.
Lynn, 55, formerly of Millbrook Court, Redcross, Co. Wicklow, was found guilty by a jury of ten of the 21 theft counts against him following a second Dublin Circuit Criminal Court trial last year.
He was jailed in February for five-and-a-half years for the thefts he carried out at the height of the Celtic Tiger period in 2006 and 2007, when he was working as a solicitor and property developer.
He was convicted of stealing over €18million from six financial institutions. The DPP is ‘engaged in enquiry as to the assets of the defendant in circumstances where it appears he is a person who has benefited from the commission of this offence’, Joe Mulrean BL, prosecuting, told the court yesterday. He said Lynn was required to set out which allegations he refutes and which he accepts. The notice was being served under sections 9, 10 and 11 of the Criminal Justice Act of 1994, the court heard.
The property in question is a house in Brittas Bay where Lynn was living, which was purchased by a corporation, the court heard. ‘That corporation, through its officers, is strongly linked to Mr Lynn himself,’ Mr Mulrean said.
There are also ‘three bank accounts with €2.8million which we say are connected to Michael Lynn’, Mr Mulrean told the court.
When asked by Judge Martin Nolan if these monies came from the thefts which were committed by Lynn, the prosecution replied: ‘We can’t say with any sort of clarity if that is the case. It appears to the Director [of Public Prosecutions] that he has benefited.’
Paul Comiskey O’Keeffe BL, defending, said the court had to be satisfied that Lynn had been served with the notice before adjourning the matter. He noted there may be further notices from the prosecution.
Judge Nolan agreed to adjourn the case, noting the matter is likely to be contested.
Mr Comiskey O’Keeffe also stated his intention to apply for further legal aid for Lynn, in case that is not in place.
Lynn has been on legal aid for both of his criminal trials.
He has recently changed solicitor, the court heard.
The prosecution stated that, in that case, it may require a statement of means.
The case will return to court on July 8.
‘It appears he has benefited’