A former solicitor has pleaded guilty to stealing client funds of almost €3 million from his family-run law firm.
Officers from the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation arrested Ruairi Ó Ceallaigh by appointment last month and he was charged at Dublin District Court with seven offences.
He is accused of misappropriating some €2.8 million over a four-year period, from accounts at law firm Seán Ó Ceallaigh & Company, Phibsboro, Dublin. The DPP had directed “trial on indictment”, meaning his case is be dealt with at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.
He appeared again at the District Court yesterday and was accompanied by his father, Seán Ó Ceallaigh, who has stood €5,000 bail for him.
Judge Patricia McNamara was told that a book of evidence did not need to be served because the case would be going forward on a “signed plea”. The judge ordered that he go forward for sentencing on February 7th. He was remanded on continuing bail.
The ex-solicitor’s charges state that between September 30th and November 27th, 2008, he dishonestly appropriated €1,551,366 in relation to a named estate. The remaining six counts relate to appropriation of sums in client accounts of six other individuals.
In these matters he is charged with dishonestly appropriating: €134,831 on March 12th, 2009; €151,078 on June 27th, 2009; €250,000 on July 18th, 2006; €509,646 between October 22nd, 2009 and May 28th the following year; €75,000 on October 22nd, 2009; and €144,644 between August 27th and September 30th, 2009.