Ireland Former Limerick solicitor Michael Small jailed for two years over €1m property undertakings
Michael Small, 56, a former solicitor in Limerick, was sentenced to two years' imprisonment at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court for deception and false accounting after giving undertakings to a mortgage company to purchase properties valued at over €1 million that were never bought, between 2008 and 2009.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced27 Mar
2 reports
Key facts
consolidated from all reports26 statements extracted from the articles
- whatMichael Small is a former solicitor who practised in Limerick. (rte.ie)
- whatHe gave undertakings to a lending institution that mortgage money would be applied to the purchase of properties stated in clients' mortgage applications. (rte.ie)
- whatThe properties were valued at over €1 million. (rte.ie)
- whatThe money was drawn down into an account but the properties were not purchased. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatHe has no previous convictions. (rte.ie)
- whatHe misled his accountant, giving rise to the false accounting charges. (rte.ie)
- whatThe majority of the mortgage money was dispersed to clients, mortgage brokers or elsewhere. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatSome injured parties had been recompensed by the Law Society while others had not. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- whatThe properties were valued at over €1 million and were never purchased (irishtimes.com)
- whatSmall misled his accountant, giving rise to the false accounting charges (irishtimes.com)
- whereMichael Small lives in Renville, Oranmore, County Galway. (rte.ie)
- whereThe offences took place while Small was in practice as a solicitor in Limerick (irishtimes.com)
- whenThe offences occurred on dates between 2008 and 2009. (rte.ie)
- whenThe offences occurred over a two-year period between 2008 and 2009 (irishtimes.com)
- investigationThe offences came to light when Small self-reported to the Law Society, which then launched an investigation. (rte.ie, irishtimes.com)
- chargeHe entered guilty pleas to counts of deception and false accounting. (rte.ie)
- chargeSmall entered guilty pleas to counts of deception and false accounting (irishtimes.com)
- courtThe case was heard at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court before Judge Martin Nolan. (rte.ie)
- courtJudge Martin Nolan said if Small had not given the undertaking, the money would not have been paid out (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceHe was sentenced to two years' imprisonment. (rte.ie)
- sentenceThe sentence was adjourned to the following Thursday for him to be taken into custody. (rte.ie)
- sentenceJudge Nolan imposed a two-year prison sentence (irishtimes.com)
- sentenceThe sentence was adjourned to Thursday next for Small to be taken into custody (irishtimes.com)
- otherSmall has no previous convictions (irishtimes.com)
- otherJudge Nolan noted Small came from a good family, had excellent testimonials and was unlikely to reoffend (irishtimes.com)
- otherJudge Nolan said Small was ill-suited to the business aspects of private practice (irishtimes.com)
The reporting
newest first- 27 Mar2023Former solicitor jailed after giving undertakings to buy over €1m of properties that were never purchased
Sentencing report: Judge Martin Nolan imposed a two-year prison sentence, adjourned to Thursday next for Small to be taken into custody. The offences came to light when Small self-reported to the Law Society. He pleaded guilty to counts of deception and false accounting.
convicted, Michael Small, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Small - 27 Mar2023Former solicitor jailed for deception, false accounting
Provides full detail of the sentencing hearing before Judge Martin Nolan, including his reasoning, the adjournment of the sentence to the following Thursday, and details about the Law Society investigation and recompense of some injured parties.
convicted, Michael Small, 56, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Small