Former rugby star Brendan Mullin sentenced to three years for Bank of Ireland theft

Brendan Mullin, a former rugby international, 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. He was found guilty on 12 of 14 charges. The theft occurred between 2011 and 2013, involving payments to solicitors and accountants for personal work. Mullin also misappropriated €500,000 during a communication breakdown within the bank, transferring it to a company he had brought in as a client. Judge Martin Nolan noted Mullin's position of trust and the absence of a clear motive. He acknowledged that the bank was fully repaid and considered mitigating factors, but ultimately deemed a custodial sentence necessary.