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Lynn may be fined and struck off

Michael Lynn - Evidence of misleading Law Society
Michael Lynn - Evidence of misleading Law Society

The Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal has recommended that rogue solicitor Michael Lynn be struck off the roll of solicitors and pay €2m in penalties.

The tribunal found Mr Lynn guilty on 57 charges of misconduct brought by the Law Society.

The solicitor has been missing since last year amid claims that he owes financial institutions more than €80m.

Tribunal chairman Frank Daly said Michael Lynn had behaved in a disgraceful fashion and was clearly someone who did not deserve to be a member of the legal profession.

He said today's case showed how the system for buying and selling property, which was largely successful, could be so ruthlessly abused by one individual for his own fraudulent advantage.

Forensic accountants who investigated the solicitor last year said they became immediately concerned about the operation of his practice accounts.

They found evidence of widespread fraud, forgery and unlawful use of client funds.

The society outlined how he borrowed millions from financial institutions and engaged in double or triple undertakings on the same properties to secure the loans. He also took clients' money from their accounts for his own use.

The disciplinary tribunal ruled that Michael Lynn was unfit to be a solicitor and will now ask the high court to strike him off the roll of solicitors and pay penalties of €2m plus costs.

It will also recommend that the case be forwarded to the DPP.