Forged letters found in Lynn's files

DOCUMENTS IN the files of the practice of the solicitor Michael Lynn included forged letters, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal was told yesterday.

Shane Murphy SC, for the Law Society, said Mr Lynn's practice files included a "false document purporting to be a fax" dated March 2007 from "McDowell Purcell solicitors for Irish Nationwide Building Society" as well as a false document purporting to be a genuine mortgage offer from the Irish Nationwide.

The tribunal was told Mr Lynn attempted to mislead society investigating accountant Mary Devereux, by presenting her with the false documents.

The tribunal was told Ms Devereux began an inquiry into Mr Lynn's practice in September 2007, during which she made a number of findings including that proper books of account were not being kept and that Mr Lynn was "his own biggest client".

She noted that loans totalling €26.3 million were drawn down by Mr Lynn between January and August 2007. There was a minimum deficit on Mr Lynn's books of €702,823 as at August 2007, but she believed "the actual deficit was many multiples" of that.

She found that a company called Kandar Holdings Ltd had offices adjoining Mr Lynn's and staff that were common to both. The company was developing sites in Portugal and there appeared to be a "freeflow of funds" from Mr Lynn's firm's client account to the company account. She found Mr Lynn had apparently purchased about 40 properties in the last year, all bought with loans.

Ms Devereux told the tribunal she met Mr Lynn in October 2007 and told him she would seek an order against him if he did not produce certain documentation.

"He said 'I will get the documentation'. Then he left the office and I didn't see him again," she said.

Mr Murphy said it emerged in time that Mr Lynn had made multiple solicitor's undertakings to financial institutions to register properties on which he was drawing down loans. Mr Lynn had identified 80 properties.

The tribunal heard details concerning the house in Howth, Co Dublin, lands at Derrockstown, Co Meath, and undertakings given in 2004, 2005 and 2006 in relation to property at Carrick-on-Shannon, Co Leitrim.