![\"Michael](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/1_CC-Michael-Lynn-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\nLynn had to be extradited from Brazilian where he spent years avoiding the charges<\/p>\n
Michael Lynn was sentenced to five-and-a-half years after being convicted of 10 counts of stealing around \u20ac17.9 million from six financial institutions (Image: )<\/p>\n
The disgraced solicitor who stole \u20ac18m from banks, Michael Lynn<\/a>, is to be freed from prison early in 2027, we can reveal.<\/p>\n The one time runaway fraudster <\/a>has been given his release date and is now preparing for a new life of freedom either in Portugal or Brazil.<\/p>\n He is currently being detained in Shelton Abbey Open Prison<\/a>, County Wicklow along with a number of long term prisoners due for release such as Veronica Guerin’s killer, Brian Meehan.<\/p>\n A prison source said: “Michael Lynn is a model prisoner and has been told he will be released in early 2027. He will receive 30pc remission in his sentence for good behaviour.<\/p>\n The Irish Mirror’s Crime Writers Michael O’Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up<\/a> and get it delivered to your inbox every week<\/p>\n “He is now preparing for his life after prison and is keeping his plans close to his chest. He has mentioned moving back to Brazil or Portugal where he also lived when he was on the run. But he may well stay in Ireland because his children are settled and at school here.”<\/p>\n The 58 year old legal eagle<\/a> who featured in the smash hit RTE documentary The Fugitive<\/a> which told of his life story, is now regularly allowed out on day releases from jail to prepare for the world outside.<\/p>\n He goes home to visit his wife Brid, a former nurse, and his four children. He was allowed out for a couple of days over Christmas.<\/p>\n Lynn has already served two years of the five and a half sentence for his crimes. Most of that time was spent in Mountjoy before he was moved to the open prison a few months ago.<\/p>\n The trial judge<\/a> during sentencing took into account the four years he spent in a hell hole Brazilian jail from 2013 to 2018 before he was extradited back to Ireland.<\/p>\n He suffered post traumatic stress disorder after watching fellow prisoners being murdered, and was also seriously ill with pneumonia 11 times.<\/p>\n Gardai do not view Lynn <\/a>as a threat to society and believe he is unlikely to re-offend. However despite their best efforts they have not recovered all of the stolen \u20ac18 million.<\/p>\n About \u20ac6m worth of assets in cash and properties have been frozen and recovered between Ireland and Portugal. Lynn said there is nothing to hide, and all of his properties were located and that all the money has been spent and is gone.<\/p>\n The rogue solicitor received millions in loans from the banks under false pretences during the last property boom by securing them against properties he already owned that were already mortgaged and secured to other financial institutions.<\/p>\n Each bank didn\u2019t know what the other had lent to him. He exploited a loophole in the banking system that relied on trust in the legal system and solicitors and got away with his scam for years until the six banks caught up with him in 2008.<\/p>\n The one time high flying couple use to live in a \u20ac6m house<\/a> on Howth, Co. Dublin.<\/p>\n The prison source added: “Michael has not said what he will work at when he gets out but he definitely won’t be practising as a solicitor again.”<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/1759950316_262_0_OTOOLE-HEALY.jpg\")
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