A Dublin solicitor, Conor Killeen, who admitted helping his partner to defraud the Irish Press newspaper group of over £60,000, has won a reprieve after serving six weeks of his 12 month sentence.
The solicitor, from Tudor Lane, Foxrock, who was sentenced to a year in jail on July 2nd for helping his partner, Elio Malocco, defraud the Irish Press, had the remainder of his sentence suspended at a special vacation sitting of the Court of Criminal Appeal yesterday morning.
Giving his judgment, Mr Justice O'Flaherty said the court considered the sentence too severe and was taking into consideration the fact that Killeen bad pleaded guilty, did not benefit from the crimes of his partner and had paid all the money he could raise, £40,000, in restitution.
Sources close to Killeen, who was supported by family members in court yesterday, said he was relieved at the decision. "He is very pleased. He has had a taste of prison and the pressure is off him now."
Killeen has not been "struck off" by the Incorporated Law Society. A spokesman told The Irish Times that the society had not initiated disciplinary proceedings because criminal proceedings were ongoing. "But it is now open to the society to review the matter, he said.
There were no reporters in court yesterday. Legal sources were surprised the appeal had been heard so quickly. The court has not heard any other cases this summer.
But last night Mr Justice O'Flaherty told The Irish Times there was "no mystery" about the case. It would have been heard in July except the court transcript of the original hearing was not available, he said. "It is desirable in the public's interest and in his own interest to dispose of the case expeditiously," he said.
The court date and venue, which were announced last July, suited the three judges, he added.
Killeen (39) had pleaded guilty to five charges of being an accessory after the fact of forgery. He received half of the maximum two year sentence which could be imposed.
Malocco was sentenced to five years for fraud. Passing sentence on July 2nd, Judge Patrick Smith said that as a solicitor Killeen was an officer of the court, but, though knowing documents produced by Malocco were forgeries, he went along with his partner's fraudulent deception.