Former Irish rugby star Brendan Mullin accused of stealing € 500,000 from Bank of Ireland while he was director

FORMER Irish international rugby star Brendan Mullin appeared in court accused of stealing more than € 500,000 from a bank while he was a manager.

r Mullin (57) faces trial on multiple counts following a series of alleged thefts at the Bank of Ireland, where he ran the private bank.

He is on trial and the case against him has been adjourned to Dublin District Court for the preparation of a compendium of evidence.

Mr Mullin (57) of Albert Lodge, Stillorgan Road, Donnybrook, Dublin 4, is charged with 15 offenses of theft and fraud as of 2011, 2012 and 2013.

These are nine counts of theft totaling € 573,000 on the part of Bank of Ireland, five of false accounting and one of deception.

Among the theft charges, he is accused of stealing € 500,000 from Bank of Ireland Private Banking, Burlington Plaza, Burlington Road, Dublin 4, December 16, 2011.

Among the other charges, it is alleged that he stole € 18,450, also the property of Bank of Ireland, at Mespil Road, Dublin 4, on September 7, 2012, and another € 18,792 on March 15, 2013 .

It is alleged that, dishonestly by deception, he induced a named woman and man to sign a payment instruction with the intention of making a gain for himself or for another, or causing a loss to another, at the Burlington Road location on July 27, 2011.

Today Detective Garda Sean O’Riordan of the Garda National Bureau of Economic Crime told Judge Michael Walsh that he arrested the accused at 9:08 a.m. this morning and drove him to Bridewell station Garda, where he was charged.

He made no comment on the charges after warning, Detective Gda O’Riordan said. The DPP was running the indictment trial, but consented to the defendant being referred to circuit court on a signed guilty plea if that happened, the garda said.

Defense attorney Robert Purcell said an evidence book would be needed.

There was no objection to the bail and the terms had been agreed upon, the court said.

Judge Walsh granted the accused a deposit of € 10,000, without any cash payment being required. Under certain conditions, Mr. Mullin must surrender his passport to the gardaí within 48 hours.

The judge said the accused must appear in court on all remand dates and be of good behavior.

Mr Purcell said Mr Mullin “may have to travel for certain business purposes” and the judge said this could be done with notice given to the gardaí.

The accused, dressed in a gray suit, an open-necked blue shirt and black shoes, was not required to address the court.

He was remanded in custody until November 11.

Mr Mullin played for Ireland and the Lions from 1984 to 1995, retiring just before the game turned professional. He had 55 caps for Ireland and made three Rugby World Cup finals. Mr. Mullin worked in the financial services industry during his rugby years and the decades that followed.

During his professional career he held the post of Managing Director of Private Banking at Bank of Ireland.