Dublin Court Hears Bank of Ireland’s early concerns in €27M fraud case

DUBLIN – In a Dublin court today, Michael Lynn, a former solicitor, faces allegations of stealing €27 million from several banks. The case, which has captured public attention, involves fraudulent activities that led to significant losses for financial institutions, including a €4.5 million insurance payout by the Bank of Ireland in September 2014.

Arthur King, an employee of the Bank of Ireland, provided testimony regarding internal communications dating back to 2004. These emails revealed early concerns about Lynn’s borrowing habits when he resided at Millbrook Court in Redcross, Co Wicklow. Despite these early red flags, King admitted he was initially unaware of the issues surrounding Lynn’s property charges on loans.

The court delved into the details of the insurance claim with Prosecutor Karl Finnegan questioning King. Meanwhile, Paul Comiskey O’Keeffe cross-examined Fiona McAleenan, another former solicitor who once worked at Michael Lynn and Co. McAleenan recounted her discovery of identical properties listed on charge registration letters from different financial institutions. This finding prompted her to resign and report her concerns to the Law Society in September 2007. However, there were no subsequent records found of such a meeting.

McAleenan also addressed questions regarding her role at Overseas Property Limited and any connections to Lynn’s law firm. She contested any knowledge of a profit-sharing agreement or partnership with Lynn’s firm, denying any management responsibilities within the company.

The court proceedings continue to unravel the complex web of transactions and decisions that led to one of the most significant fraud cases in recent years. The testimonies are shedding light on both the actions taken by Michael Lynn and the responses from financial institutions affected by his alleged misconduct.

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