Former Ireland centre Brendan Mullin jailed for 3 years

Former Ireland rugby international Brendan Mullin has been sentenced to three years in prison for stealing over €567,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Bank while serving as its managing director.

Mullin (61), of Stillorgan Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4; was convicted on 12 of 14 charges following a three-week trial at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court.

The offences occurred between 2011 and 2013.

The court heard that Mullin acted dishonestly by arranging for bank funds to be paid to McCann Fitzgerald solicitors, Beechwood accountants, and Grant Thornton for services carried out for him personally or for his firm, Quantum Investment Strategies. He was also found guilty of stealing €500,000 during a communication breakdown within the bank, with the money being transferred to Spice Holdings, a company registered in the British Virgin Islands and introduced to the bank by Mullin.

Sentencing, Judge Martin Nolan said Mullin was in a “position of trust and a position of power” when he stole the funds. The judge described Mullin as someone who could “sway other parties to do his will” and inferred that Mullin’s actions were driven by financial desperation.

Mitigating factors included the repayment of the stolen funds, which left the bank without financial loss, and the significant delay in bringing the case to trial. The court also noted Mullin’s acceptance of the jury’s verdicts and his expression of remorse.

Judge Nolan stated that a custodial sentence was inevitable, given the seriousness of the offences, and imposed a three-year prison term. Mullin, who remained silent during sentencing, bowed his head as the verdict was delivered.

Mullin was acquitted of two charges relating to Beechwood Partners, including the alleged theft of €6,150 and a related false accounting charge. A further deception charge was dismissed on the direction of the trial judge.

The conviction and sentencing conclude the case against the former rugby international, who played 55 times for Ireland.