Ex-Ireland rugby international Brendan Mullin sentenced to three years in jail

Mullin won 55 caps for Ireland.

Former Irish rugby international Brendan Mullin has been sentenced to three years in jail after being found guilty of stealing over €500,000 from Bank of Ireland.

The Dublin man was one of Ireland's best players from the mid-80s to the mid-90s, winning 55 caps for the national side. He previously held the record for most tries for his country.

The 61-year-old was the managing director of Bank of Ireland's private bank - "the bank for the rich" - when the theft occurred, between 2011-2013.

He initially pleaded not guilty to stealing over €570,000 but was convicted earlier this month, in a jury decision which he now accepts.

The trial is centred on a payment of €500,000, paid by the bank to a company called Spice Holdings, which was introduced to BOI by Mullin. This money has never been recovered, but Mullin did pay back a half a million to Bank of Ireland.

Mullin was accused on 15 counts - nine for theft, five for false accounting, and one for deception. The deception charge was dropped and he was subsequently found guilty of 12 of the 14 charges.

The rest of the €573,28, was mostly made up of €61,000 in personal legal expenses (this was also paid back by Mullin).

Mullin was initially brought in by the bank as a "rainmaker", to help attract wealthy clients. His defence counsel spoke of the hardship Mullin has suffered during a "huge fall from grace."

Mullin's son Gavin represented the Ireland 7s team at the Paris Olympics in the summer.