Ireland Former solicitor pleads guilty to theft of €63,000 from client and receives suspended sentence
Alex Gibbons, a 60-year-old man and former solicitor, pleaded guilty to theft of €63,000 (reported as over €60,000 in one article) from a business client, a construction company. The offence occurred in 2008, when he operated Gibbons and Co Solicitors in Kent Street, Clonakilty, and transferred funds from a client account into his own personal account. He was struck off the Law Society register in 2012 after his practising certificate was suspended in 2011, and he repaid the construction company in full three years after the offence. At Cork Circuit Criminal Court, the judge heard evidence from Detective Garda Daniel Lordan and the defence asked for leniency. The latest development, reported on 15 February 2024, is that Gibbons received a three-year sentence which the judge suspended in full.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Verdictnot reported
- Sentenced15 Feb
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Alex Gibbons, a 60-year-old man, pleaded guilty to theft of €63,000 from a business client.
- Gibbons transferred funds from a client account into his own personal account.
- Where
- Gibbons operated Gibbons and Co Solicitors in Kent Street, Clonakilty (one article spells it Clonakility).
- When
- The offence occurred in 2008.
- Cause
- The funds should have been sent to Revenue for stamp duty.
- Investigation
- Detective Garda Daniel Lordan gave evidence at Cork Circuit Criminal Court.
- In court
- Judge Colin Daly said Gibbons held a position of enormous trust and called the breach most egregious.
- The defence asked for leniency, saying Gibbons was caring for his elderly father.
- Sentence
- Gibbons received a three-year sentence, which the judge suspended in full.
- Other details
- Gibbons repaid the construction company's account in full three years after the offence.
- His practising certificate was suspended in 2011 and he was struck off the Law Society register in 2012.
- Gibbons had no previous convictions.
12 statements extracted from the articles
- whatAlex Gibbons pleaded guilty to the theft of €63,000 from a business client. (irishmirror.ie)
- whatGibbons transferred funds from a client account into his own personal account. (irishmirror.ie)
- whereGibbons operated a solicitors' firm in Kent Street, Clonakilty. (irishmirror.ie)
- whenThe offence occurred in 2008. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtEvidence was heard at Cork Circuit Criminal Court from Detective Garda Daniel Lordan. (irishmirror.ie)
- courtThe defence asked for leniency, saying Gibbons was caring for his elderly father. (irishmirror.ie)
- sentenceGibbons received a three-year sentence, which the judge suspended in full. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGibbons repaid the construction company's account in full three years later. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe funds should have been sent to Revenue for stamp duty. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGibbons's practising certificate was suspended in 2011 and he was struck off the Law Society register the following year. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherGibbons had no previous convictions. (irishmirror.ie)
- otherThe judge said Gibbons held a position of enormous trust and called the breach most egregious. (irishmirror.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 15 Feb2024Former solicitor pleads guilty to theft of over €60,000 from client
Reports the guilty plea, the Cork Circuit Criminal Court hearing, the judge's remarks and the full suspension of a three-year sentence. The 2008 offence is dated by year only.
convicted, Alex Gibbons, 60, male, named, irish (judged from name)Alex Gibbons