FORMER SOLICITOR Thomas Byrne, who was charged in December with stealing millions of euro of his clients’ money, has been charged with 50 additional offences of stealing and defrauding €52 million from financial institutions in the final years of the property boom.
The 45-year-old Dubliner is alleged to have fraudulently obtained mortgages, sometimes several on the same property, on his dealings with 20 properties.
His prosecution is one of the most high-profile since the collapse of the property market. It comes after a lengthy investigation by the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation.
Mr Byrne, who had a solicitor’s practice in Clondalkin, west Dublin, before he was struck off by the Law Society, has been granted bail and legal aid but has had to surrender his passport.
He will appear again before Dublin District Court in four weeks when the book of evidence will be served on him.
When brought before Judge John O’Neill yesterday the court was told Mr Byrne – of Walkinstown Road and Aungier Street, both Dublin, was facing 50 additional charges under the Theft and Fraud Offences Act.
He faces 14 counts of making false instruments, including deeds of transfer and assignments of properties; eight counts of using false instruments; nine charges of deception; and 21 theft charges relating to mortgages on more than 20 private residences across Dublin.
It is alleged he stole €52 million from National Irish Bank, IIB, Irish Nationwide Building Society, EBS, Anglo Irish Bank and Bank of Scotland from 2004 until September 2007.
Det Sgt Paschal Walsh told the court Mr Byrne made no comment in reply to each charge.