tuesday, December 3, 2013
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12yrs in prison for €52m fraud
by brian hutton
Solicitor thomas Byrne has been jailed for 16 years with four suspended, for orchestrating a ‘colossal’ €52million property loans swindle – the largest theft case in irish history. A court heard Byrne, of Mountjoy Square, Dublin, has lost his life, family and successful business since his plot came down around him like a house of cards six years ago. the 47-year-old separated father of three was exposed for transferring clients’ homes into his own name and using them as security to obtain multi-million euro bank loans. After being found guilty of 50 charges of theft, forgery and deception in a trial lasting six weeks, Judge Patrick Mccartan told the circuit criminal court in Dublin that Byrne’s crimes were ‘staggering to consider’. the years-long plot, which tumbled in 2007, was uncovered when a whistleblower alerted the law Society. the scam required careful planning and execution, Byrne had not helped the Garda investigation and almost none of the money has been recovered, the court was told.
‘Staggering’: Thomas Byrne, who has received 16 years in jail over a €52million property loans swindle Picture: PA
Keep Dublin tidy – Please recycle this Metro Herald when you are finished with it
reilly calls in health chiefs over payments HEALTH Minister James Reilly has summoned heads of hospitals and health agencies to account for unsanctioned payments for executives. The chiefs of bodies found not to be compliant with salary caps for the public service will be asked to explain where and why monies are being paid. The Department of Health said the bosses will have to detail to Health Service Executive (HSE) director general Tony O’Brien any breaches of pay rules. The demand for explanations was made after the HSE rejected claims that it agreed or sanctioned top-up payments for the chief executive and other senior staff in the Central Remedial Clinic. Agency and hospital heads will be called in for meetings from next week. Dr Reilly said he has requested urgent action to ensure all agencies in the health system comply with pay rules with answers expected before Christmas. It comes after a review found that in 2011 more than €3.2million was paid out in additional allowances from State funds to senior managers. Thirteen hospitals and health agencies have been found collectively paying more than €900,000 to executives from funds that came from private sources.