A former solicitor who was struck off by the Law Society over a decade ago has received a three year suspended sentence
60 year old Alex Gibbons pleaded guilty to the theft of €63,000 from a business client in 2008, when he operated out of Gibbons and Co Solicitors in Clonakility
His practising certificate was suspended in 2011 and he was formally struck off the Law Society register the following year.
Cork Circuit Criminal Court heard that he transferred funds from a client account in to his own personal account before repaying it in full three years later
However the offence subsequently emerged as the funds should have been sent to Revenue for stamp duty
The stamp duty was paid after the funds were returned to the client account.
Judge Daly said that Mr Gibbons was in a position of enormous trust and professional responsibility.
However, he acknowledged the value of the plea in the case and the loss of “thirty years of good (professional) standing” by Mr Gibbons.
He said that he was cognisant that the criminal prosecution would have impacted not only on Mr Gibbons but on his family. He opted to suspend the sentence in its entirety.
“You come before the court with previous good character and in the exceptional circumstances of the case I am satisfied to suspend the three years in full.”
