Disgraced Irish ex-solicitor Michael Lynn argues his €18m theft conviction should be quashed because the money was not 'property'

Michael Lynn, a former Irish solicitor extradited from Brazil in 2018 after years fighting prosecution, is appealing his conviction on the novel legal argument that money transferred between bank accounts cannot constitute "property" under Irish theft law. He was convicted of defrauding six financial institutions of more than €18m during the Celtic Tiger property boom through fraudulent mortgage applications.

Lynn had to be dragged back to Ireland from Brazil, where he had lived for years to evade the charges against him.

His legal team argues the €18m transfers did not constitute "property" as defined under Irish law, a claim that could carry significant consequences for future fraud prosecutions.

Separately, a Belgian aristocrat and a UK ex-banker have gone on trial today accused of a €54m tax fraud in what prosecutors are calling the Dubai Papers case.