Struck-off solicitor Thomas Byrne has been charged with the theft of over €2m in relation to his clients' purchase of an apartment block on Dorset Street in Dublin city centre.
Thomas Byrne, 45, with an address on Aungier Steet in Dublin, formerly had a solicitor's practice in Walkinstown, Dublin.
He appeared before the Dublin District Court this evening charged with two counts of theft.
Mr Byrne is accused with dishonestly keeping the sum of €1,887,415.70 given to him on 31 August, 2007 by three clients - Brian Whelan, Brian Maher and Enda Mulryan - for the purpose of discharging a loan from TSB.
He is also charged with dishonestly keeping €198,742.50 which the same three clients gave to him to pay the stamp duty on the same property on 2 May, 2006.
Gardaí have said that further more serious charges are pending against the former solicitor.
At the Dublin District Court this evening, Mr Byrne was granted legal aid and released on bail of his own bond of €1,000.
