FORMER SOLICITOR MICHAEL Lynn has appeared in court in Brazil in relation to an extradition request lodged by the Irish Government.

The 46-year-old fled Ireland five years ago, having racked up debts of €80 million. He moved through a number of European countries before settling in Brazil, where he was granted permanent residency in 2011. He was arrested back in August.

While no formal extradition treaty exists between Ireland and Brazil, Justice Minister Alan Shatter said after Lynn’s arrest that the arrangement between the two countries was one of “reciprocity”.

He appeared in court last night in Recife, in the state of Pernambuco. While no media were allowed in, Sunday Times journalist Sarah O’Sullivan told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that the hearing involved a judge, Lynn’s legal team and a public defender, who questioned him for around an hour and 40 minutes on “the process of extradition”.

She said video and audio of the interview would now be sent to the Supreme Court, and that it could be “up to a year” before a decision was made.

O’Sullivan said that at the end of the hearing, Lynn’s legal team made a request that nothing be said to media, and that no photographs be allowed.

Lynn was struck off the solicitors’ register in 2007, after the Law Society found that he had used money belonging to clients to fund his lifestyle and raised €80 million by securing multiple mortgages on the same properties.

A warrant was issued for his arrest after he failed to appear in the High Court.

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