A FAMILY who paid for their home in full is in danger of having it repossessed because fugitive solicitor Michael Lynn never passed on the money to the bank, the High Court has heard.
The family had purchased the home from Mr Lynn, who had given an undertaking to lodge the proceedings of the sale with Bank of Scotland (Ireland). However, the court heard that Mr Lynn had not done this.
Counsel for the bank told Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne that the family was not the only victim in the case, that the bank was a victim too.
The bank also said there had been “exceptional delay” in bringing the case to court, due to the need to serve notice on Mr Lynn.
The court was told that advertisements had been placed in English language newspapers on the Algarve, in an attempt to serve notice, as there was an indication Mr Lynn was in Portugal.
The case was heard at the weekly chancery summonses hearing in the High Court yesterday, in which Ms Justice Elizabeth Dunne granted orders for possession on six properties.
In one case involving GE Capital Woodchester, an order was granted for possession of a Co Tipperary home, as no mortgage repayments had been made in almost a year. Arrears of €10,530.63 had accrued with a total balance outstanding in excess of €66,000.
The court heard that the defendant had made no contact since November, despite receiving two “last chance” letters, one in January and one in February. The defendant gave an undertaking in October to make payments and contributions to arrears, but this never occurred.
Ms Justice Dunne said she had little choice but to grant the order “where somebody doesn’t come to court, and doesn’t deal with the matter”.