Thursday 29 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 6508Theft

Michael Lynn jailed for 5½ years over theft of €17.9m from banks

Michael Lynn, a 55-year-old former solicitor and property developer, was convicted in December 2023 of 10 counts of stealing about €17.9 million from six financial institutions in Ireland between October 2006 and April 2007. A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court returned the verdicts after his extradition from Brazil. In January 2024 gardaí searched five properties and obtained a freezing order on over €2 million in linked accounts, and in February 2024 Judge Martin Nolan sentenced him to 5½ years, counting his time in a Brazilian prison as 7½ years. The confiscation matter was put back to April 16th, and the latest development is that Lynn has instructed that an appeal against his conviction and sentence be lodged.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In courtnot reported
  5. Verdictnot reported
  6. Sentenced19 Feb
    2 reports
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
Michael Lynn, a 55-year-old former solicitor and property developer, was convicted of 10 counts of stealing around €17.9 million.
Where
The money was stolen from six financial institutions in Ireland during the property boom.
When
The charges relate to thefts committed between October 2006 and April 2007.
In court
  • A jury at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court convicted Lynn on 10 of 21 charges in December, after a trial following his extradition from Brazil.
  • An earlier trial in 2022 ended without a verdict, and the jury could not agree on the remaining 11 counts.
Investigation
  • The Garda National Economic Crime Bureau has been investigating Lynn's financial dealings in Ireland since his return from South America.
  • In January 2024 armed gardaí searched five properties, including Lynn's family home in Co Wicklow.
  • Gardaí obtained an order freezing more than €2 million in bank accounts linked to Lynn and his associates.
  • Gardaí believe Lynn used part of the stolen money to fund a money-laundering scheme buying properties through front companies, and are investigating linked companies for money laundering, deception and social welfare fraud.
  • The prosecution said it would apply later for a confiscation or seizure of Lynn's properties and bank accounts under proceeds-of-crime legislation, and that matter was put back to April 16th.
Sentence
  • Judge Martin Nolan set a headline sentence of 16 years, reduced to 13 years for mitigation including Lynn's lack of previous convictions.
  • The judge counted Lynn's 4½ years in a Brazilian prison as 7½ years, citing harsh conditions, and imposed a sentence of 5½ years running from December 20th.
  • Lynn was sentenced on a Monday in February 2024.
Other details
Lynn has instructed that an appeal be lodged against his conviction and sentence.
22 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatLynn was convicted of 10 counts of stealing around €17.9 million from six financial institutions. (irishtimes.com)
  • whatLynn was jailed for 5½ years for stealing vast sums from six financial institutions in Ireland during the property boom. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe charges relate to theft between October 2006 and April 2007. (irishtimes.com)
  • whenThe sentence was handed down on a Monday. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe prosecution said there might be an application for a confiscation of assets order. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí believe Lynn returned to Ireland with a substantial portion of the €17.9 million and used it to fund a new criminal scheme here. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationThe Garda National Economic Crime Bureau has been investigating Lynn's financial dealings in Ireland since his return from South America. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationA search operation saw five properties, including Lynn's family home in Co Wicklow, subject to dawn raids by armed gardaí. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí obtained an order freezing more than €2 million in bank accounts linked to Lynn and his associates. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationProsecutors will apply later for a seizure of Lynn's properties and bank accounts under proceeds-of-crime legislation. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationLynn is believed to have used the money to fund a money-laundering scheme centred on buying properties in Ireland through front companies. (irishtimes.com)
  • investigationGardaí are investigating companies linked to Lynn for money laundering, deception and social welfare fraud. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtA jury returned guilty verdicts on 10 of the 21 charges against Lynn. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe confiscation matter was put back to April 16th. (irishtimes.com)
  • courtLynn was convicted of the thefts in December after a trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court, following his extradition from Brazil. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 16 years and reduced it to 13 years for mitigation. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceTime Lynn spent in a Brazilian prison was counted as 7½ years. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe sentence runs from December 20th, when the jury found Lynn guilty. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge set a headline sentence of 16 years, reduced to 13 years for mitigating factors including Lynn's lack of previous convictions. (irishtimes.com)
  • sentenceThe judge counted Lynn's 4½ years in a Brazilian prison as 7½ years, citing harsh conditions, and set the sentence at 5½ years from 20 December. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherLynn instructed that an appeal be lodged against his conviction and sentence. (irishtimes.com)
  • otherLynn has instructed that an appeal be lodged against his conviction and sentence. (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 20 Feb2024
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, first report
    Gardaí believe Michael Lynn used stolen cash for money-laundering scheme after return to Ireland

    Adds the sentence details (5½ years, running from the jury verdict on 20 December), the court's reasoning, and the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau investigation: a search operation, a freezing order on over €2 million, and planned proceeds-of-crime applications. Also notes the planned appeal.

    convicted, Michael Lynn, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Lynn
  2. 19 Feb2024
    Sentencedirishtimes.com, follow-up
    Former solicitor Michael Lynn sentenced to five and a half years for theft of €17.9m

    Reports the sentencing of Michael Lynn after a jury convicted him on 10 of 21 theft counts; the judge set the sentence, a confiscation application may follow, and an appeal has been lodged.

    convicted, Michael Lynn, 55, male, named, irish (judged from name)Michael Lynn