Jury in €50m fraud trial hear that elderly were targets
A jury in the €50m fraud trial of a former solicitor has been told that one of the more distasteful aspects of the evidence is that a lot of his clients were elderly ladies.
Thomas Byrne with an address at Mountjoy Square in Dublin is accused of forging documents to secure multiple bank loans on his clients' properties.
Prosecution barrister Remy Farrell told the jury when you turn on the radio there are those who say that prosecuting white collar cases is a hopeless task.
He said this case which could last eight weeks involves a lot of documents but that does not necessarily mean it is difficult or complex.
In his opening address he said the former solicitor practiced in Walkinstown under the name Thomas Byrne and Company until late 2007 when the firm was taken over by the law society.
It is claimed the 47-year-old forged deeds purporting to transfer houses owned by his clients - one of whom was a friend - into his own name, allegedly so he could then use these properties as security for multiple bank loans.
Mr Farrell said the charges date to the zenith of the Celtic tiger and the jury will hear evidence about people getting large amounts of money from banks with pretty flimsy paperwork.
