CONOR KILLEEN'S crime was to lie for his partner. He later admitted the cover up to gardai, had never been in trouble previously and did not benefit from the fraud by his partner, Elio Malocco.
However, Killeen was a solicitor, and yesterday, Judge Patrick Smith wanted the message to go out that this type of crime would not be tolerated.
Judge Smith's decision to sentence Killeen to a year was greeted with surprise. Two weeks ago, he remanded him in custody after the case was heard in the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court. It was thought perhaps he was teaching the Dublin solicitor a lesson by showing him prison life and that a suspended sentence would be handed down. The worst scenario was two years in jail.
As Judge Smith handed down the year sentence yesterday, Killeen, who was still sitting in the dock as no one had instructed him to stand, immediately fell forward, head in hands. His wife, Patricia, surrounded by relatives, wept.
Afterwards, Killeen (39), of Tudor Lane, Foxrock, Dublin, comforted his distraught wife who had clearly hoped for more leniency.
As he was led away by two prison officers, Mrs Killeen was helped from the court by relatives. She spoke briefly to reporters. "The truth will come to be told. Conor is so honest. The truth will be told about what happened."
It has been a long five years for the couple which has an eight year old daughter. After the firm of Malocco and Killeen ceased to function, Killeen went to Portugal, to teach English. His wife and daughter joined him there for a year. Once gardai asked him to return to Ireland, he did so.
Friends say the couple has been under huge stress over the impending case. Mrs Killeen has been remarkably strong, according to a, friend, and has been supporting the family while her husband, suspended as a solicitor, stayed at home to care for their daughter.
Yesterday, Mrs Killeen lodged a letter with the court which was read privately by Judge Smith. It detailed how much the family had been through and the kind of father and husband Conor Killeen has been. Her husband is not in good health and suffers from colitis.
During yesterday's hearing, Judge Smith said he sympathised with Mrs Killeen. However, he had a duty to impose the sentence after hearing the evidence.
While Mr Killeen spent the two weeks of his remand in Mountjoy, it is likely that he will be moved to a lower security prison to serve his sentence. His legal representatives are expected to appeal the severity of the sentence.
Yesterday, a Garda source said there was some surprise at the sentence and sympathy for Mrs Killeen. "There is nothing to suggest that he benefited from the fraud. Up to this instance, he appears to have been a man of integrity. But If you discover a fraud when you better come clean about it.
According to legal sources, Killeen, educated in Blackrock College, was a "quiet guy with a normal lifestyle".