DUBLIN Circuit Court No 14 was crowded when Mark Synnott arrived with his lawyer and his priest.

There were lawyers for other cases, accused men handcuffed to prison officers, dozens of people waiting to see if they were needed for jury duty. The small man in the grey suit and brown tie did not stand out, until the busy court subsided and he was called forward.

Three fraud charges were read out. He replied "guilty" to each one. The judge said he had to swear a jury for another case and those connected with Synnott filed into the hallway until that was done.

When the case resumed the handful of investors present listened intently as the prosecuting barrister, Mr Maurice Gaffney SC, went through the evidence. Synnott sat alone to one side of the court as the barrister spoke. Occasionally he looked up at the lawyer or the judge, but never back into the body of the court.

Det Garda James Flanagan, who had investigated the case for the Garda Fraud Squad, was called to give evidence. He ran through instances where people had handed over money to Synnott, never to get it back. Most were elderly, and had invested a life's savings or redundancy payments in expectation of secure pensions throughout their retirement.

He was asked if there was any chance of their investments being recouped.

"No, my lord, there's no money available at all," he said.

Judge Cyril Kelly suggested the investors present should have a chance to give evidence, to explain what had happened to them. He added that he would order that the investors not be identified in the media.

The defending barrister, Mr Peter Charleton SC, said he could not object, but the prosecuting barrister, Mr Gaffney, suggested it might be better to allow the garda to talk to the investors and then give the court a precise of their circumstances. The judge agreed.

The court rose for 20 minutes while the garda spoke to the investors. When the case resumed shortly after midday, the garda gave details of each case. Synnott remained impassive throughout.

Mr Charleton said the broker had "thrown himself on the mercy of the court". He had saved a three or four week trial with his guilty pleas. He now lived "in modest circumstances" with his mother, the two depending on his social welfare payments and her pension for income. He was untrained and unqualified. His marriage had broken up and his wife and children had left him.

Mr Charleton called the priest. Father Eugene McCaffrey said he had known Synnott and his father for years. He did not know details of their business, but "from the outside they seemed to be doing quite well". He said Synnott had had a "drink problem", but added "as far as I know he's not an alcoholic".

When the court rose at 12.40 p.m. the judge said he would sentence Synnott at 2.30 p.m.

Through the long wait Synnott sat in an anteroom off the hallway, smoking. By the time 2.30 arrived he had built a large stack of cigarette butts in a small brown and white saucer.

He showed no reaction when the judge red through the charges, and then sentenced him to penal servitude of four years and three months. He also disqualified him from being a company director for 10 years.

When the court rose shortly before 3 p.m. Synnott talked briefly with his lawyer before being led out of the court handcuffed to a prison officer. They went back to tile anteroom, to wait for the van which would take the broker to Mountjoy prison. The handful of investors present seemed satisfied with the outcome. "It's nice to see justice being done, but it will never compensate for the pain and suffering of his clients," said one.

Most of tile investors left, but a couple waited. Synnott continued to smoke, avoiding their stares through the open anteroom door. Finally the van arrived. As he was led through the exit one of his victims stepped forward.

"Goodbye, Mr Synnott," he said.