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17 Dec 2025
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17 Dec 2025
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The man appeared before Falcarragh District Court, sitting at Letterkenny Courthouse
A former Donegal solicitor is to stand trial for allegedly stealing more than €100,000 from clients' bank accounts.
Robert Sweeney was served with a book of evidence when he appeared at Falcarragh District Court.
Garda Sergeant Jim Collins told the court that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had consented for the accused to go forward for trial at the next sitting of Letterkenny Circuit Court in February, 2026.
Sweeney, a 49-year-old, with an address at Rosemount Lane in Letterkenny, faces three charges.
He is charged with stealing the money from AIB bank accounts at Eyre Square in Galway in both 2012 and 2013.
The married father-of-three is charged that on November 11, 2012 at AIB, Eyre Square in Galway, he did steal property to wit €25,000, money being credited to an account in the name of Robert Sweeney, the property of Yvonne Murphy.
He is also charged that on October 11, 2013 at AIB Eyre Square in Galway, he did steal property to wit €43,000, money being credited to an account in the name of Robert Sweeney, the property of Manjit Gill.
The accused was also charged that on December 3, 2013, at AIB, Eyre Square in Galway, he did steal property to wit €35,000, money being credited to an account in the name of Robert Sweeney, the property of Ciaran Byrne.
All charges are contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act 2001.
The court was previously told that Sweeney stopped practising as a solicitor in 2014 after he undertook not to seek a practising certificate.
Solicitor for the accused, Mr Patsy Gallagher, sought and was granted legal aid for this client.
Mr Gallagher sought both a senior and junior counsel to represent his client telling Judge Emile Daly that this was "a complicated matter."
Mr Gallagher made reference to the fact that the alleged sum involved is €103,000 and asked Judge Daly to note the nature of the offence which he said was in his client's "professional capacity."
Mr Sweeney was released on the same ongoing terms and conditions of his previous bail.
He will appear in court again at Letterkenny Circuit Court in February.
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