Trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn opens on Wednesday

The trial of former solicitor Michael Lynn on charges of stealing about €27 million from seven financial institutions by making 21 different mortgage applications between 2006 and 2007 is set to formally open at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court on Wednesday.

When one of the charges was put to Mr Lynn on Monday – of alleged theft on December 13th, 2006 of some €2.72 million, the property of Bank of Ireland Mortgage Bank – he pleaded not guilty.

On Tuesday, a second charge was put to him alleging that on March 16th, 2007, in Co Dublin, he stole property in the sum of €1,338,160, the property of Danske Bank, trading as National Irish Bank. Mr Lynn also pleaded not guilty to that charge.

John Berry, for the DPP, told the jury panel that there are a further 20 offences and each is one of theft.

It is alleged that Mr Lynn stole about €27 million by making 21 different mortgage applications in the period between 2006 and 2007, counsel said.

He said Mr Lynn is from Crossmolina, Co Mayo and is now living in Redcross, Co Wicklow. Counsel listed a number of previous addresses of Mr Lynn in Dublin and Co Meath.

Jurors

Mr Lynn previously practiced as a solicitor under the title Michael Lynn & Company solicitors and was associated with other legal and property businesses including Kendar Holdings, Mr Berry added.

Counsel said more detail will be heard later but that the trial will take 12-14 weeks with more than 70 witnesses. He listed the names of the witnesses, saying the jurors should not serve if they had links to any of the institutions or the witnesses.

After a 15-member panel of jurors was sworn, Judge Martin Nolan asked them to return on Wednesday for the full opening of the trial. He said Mr Lynn was entitled to a fair trial and the case must be decided only on what is said in the courtroom.