County Antrim Solicitor Receives Suspended Sentence for £85,000 Client Fraud

A solicitor from County Antrim, who defrauded clients of £85,000 to maintain her business following the property crash, has been spared a prison sentence. Mary McAleese, aged 65, received a 15-month jail sentence, which was suspended for three years by the judge presiding at Belfast Crown Court. McAleese, residing at Frys Lane in Ballymena, had previously admitted guilt to four charges of fraud, committed through the abuse of her professional role as a solicitor. The court was informed that she operated as the sole proprietor of O’Toole & MacRandal, a legal practice located in Belfast. McAleese’s business encountered financial difficulties during the property crash that occurred in 2007 and 2008. During this period, McAleese transferred funds from the client account into the office account to prevent the business from failing. The court heard that a total of £85,000 was withdrawn from the client account. Three of the accusations pertained to funds owed from family estates. The fourth charge concerned a client whom McAleese informed that an insurance company had proposed a £2,500 settlement for her civil claim, despite the actual settlement being £12,500. McAleese’s status as a solicitor was revoked in June 2018, following an audit of her financial records in 2016 conducted by the Law Society and an independent accounting firm. The Law Society had already reimbursed the money to the affected parties. In August 2022, during a police interview, McAleese provided “full admissions” regarding the frauds. A defence barrister stated that McAleese’s husband has remitted £30,000 to the Law Society and is in the process of purchasing her £40,000 stake in the family residence. On Friday, the court was informed that an additional £35,000 had been raised by another relative, intended for deposit with the Law Society. The judge remarked that McAleese acted as the sole solicitor for several estates of deceased individuals, characterizing this case as a “breach of trust.” The judge stated, “The public reposes great trust in solicitors to deal with their cases in a prompt and appropriate manner.” “In particular they should be honest when they come to handling large sums of money which go through their client account,” the judge added. The judge further commented, “There is a high degree of trust reposed when a solicitor is operating in a fiduciary basis.” The judge also noted that the prosecution acknowledged McAleese did not appropriate the funds for a “high life,” and as a consequence of the fraud, she became bankrupt and her company ceased operations. The judge observed an eight-year delay in bringing the case to court but accepted that the defendant was not responsible for this delay. Taking into account McAleese’s personal circumstances, her prompt admissions, and her previously unblemished record, the judge declared the case “exceptional” and suspended the 15-month sentence for a period of three years. The judge issued a warning that should the defendant commit any additional offense within the next three years, she would be recalled to serve the 15-month sentence.