Byrne jury hears technical evidence in solicitor fraud and theft trial

The trial of former solicitor Thomas Byrne has been shown documents said to show that he paid stamp duty on multiple properties of which he is alleged to have fraudulently taken possession .

Mr Byrne (47) of Walkinstown Road, Crumlin, Dublin, is accused of theft and fraud offences totalling €51.8million. Most of the counts allege he transferred clients’ homes into his name and then used them as collateral for bank loans. He has pleaded not guilty to 51 counts of theft, forgery, using forged documents and deception between 2004 and 2007. The seventh day of the trial was dominated by technical evidence on the payment of stamp duty.

The jury has already heard from a succession of homeowners and property dealers who claim Mr Byrne transferred their properties into his name using forged signatures.

The trial is now entering its second phase, which is expected to concentrate on how Mr Byrne allegedly used these properties as security for loans from six banks. Some of the properties were allegedly used as collateral multiple times with different banks.

The trial continues.