A Dublin couple who faced losing their home after being caught up in the financial case involving solicitor Thomas Byrne will now be able to complete the purchase of their new home, according to the Law Society. They may also receive compensation in as little as three days, the society says.
Robbie Tobin and Michelle Mahon were in the process of buying a new home as Mr Byrne's legal firm was shut down following revelations that he was millions of euro in debt.
Their file was among 4,000 affected by the closure of the practices of Mr Byrne and another indebted solicitor, Michael Lynn.
The Law Society said it had been able to speed up access to their file to ensure the couple could move into their new home.
Mr Byrne was handling the sale of Mr Tobin's home in Clonsilla, Ms Mahon's house in Clondalkin and the purchase of their new home in Lucan, but vital deeds were in Mr Byrne's files, which were held by gardaí.
Meanwhile, mortgage payments were being deducted for Mr Tobin's old home, even though it had been sold and the money given to Mr Byrne. The couple faced the prospect of losing their new home and being saddled with a €250,000 debt.
In a statement, the Law Society said: "Having secured clearance from the gardaí for the release of the files in this case, the society was in touch yesterday and today with the couple's new solicitor to arrange that the files, deeds and paperwork can be taken up by their new solicitor immediately."
Law Society director general Ken Murphy said the couple may also be entitled to swift compensation. The society was dealing with 4,000 files from the Lynn and Byrne practices, he said.