Former high-profile solicitor Tim Meehan has pleaded guilty to fraud
THE former high-profile solicitor who represented Daniel Morcombe’s killer, and who is now in custody after pleading guilty to fraud, has made wide-ranging accusations against other lawyers.
Crime & Justice
Don't miss out on the headlines from Crime & Justice. Followed categories will be added to My News.
FORMER high-flying lawyer Tim Meehan was behind bars last night, the first scalp in an ongoing investigation by the crime and corruption watchdog into the legal fraternity.
Meehan – whose clients included Daniel Morcombe’s killer Brett Peter Cowan – walked into court and admitted to fraud offences at his former employer, Bosscher Lawyers.
The charges of aggravated fraud and fraudulently falsifying documents come after Meehan was sacked from the firm last August, following accusations he stole more than $160,000 with the aid of his law clerk mistress, who has not been charged with any offence.
But it’s understood Meehan’s also made wide-ranging accusations against other lawyers, which remain under investigation by the Crime and Corruption Commission.
“I am guilty,” he told the Brisbane Supreme Court during a surprise indictment presentation that had been kept off the daily court list.
After pleading guilty, the one-time prominent solicitor was remanded in custody and his sentencing was adjourned to July 13.
It’s believed he will spend three weeks at Arthur Gorrie Correctional Centre.
The CCC yesterday confirmed the charges related to the “dishonest application” of more than $30,000 belonging to Bosscher Lawyers, as well as the fraudulent falsification of costs agreements and tax invoices.
The watchdog said it was “continuing to investigate suspected criminal activity within elements of the legal profession” in Queensland.
“As this investigation remains ongoing and this matter is now before the court, the CCC is unable to comment further,” the statement said.
Meehan was a senior practitioner at Bosscher Lawyers when he was sacked. Paperwork filed by the firm in a civil case in the Supreme Court in September claimed he and his mistress had created fake invoices, offered to meet clients for late-night cash drops and collected money hidden under office keyboards.
Later that month, the CCC searched Bosscher Lawyers’ office in Brisbane’s CBD, with police officers spotted carting away material, including boxes and computer material.
The probe widened in April, when a second criminal law firm in Brisbane, Lawler Magill, was raided by the CCC.
Managing director Neil Lawler told The Courier-Mail the firm was co-operating.
Meehan surrendered his practising certificate soon after the firm alerted the Queensland Law Society to the fraud.
Labelling it a dark day for the legal profession, QLS President Christine Smyth said it was “extremely disappointing” when a lawyer abused the trust put in them.
Meehan’s LinkedIn profile features a quote from US lawyer Clarence Darrow that: “To be an effective criminal defence counsel, an attorney must be prepared to be demanding, outrageous, irreverent, blasphemous, a rogue, a renegade and a hated, isolated and lonely person.”
Less than 24 hours before he pleaded guilty, Meehan updated his Facebook profile with a photo of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Terminator with the catchphrase: “I’ll be back.”
Additional reporting: Chris Honnery
‘You’ve lost two licences, and you’re only a learner’
A learner driver copped an earful from an Ipswich magistrate over his astonishing accumulation of demerit points.
‘Night beautiful’: Mum accused of attempted murder
A mum accused of trying to murder her four-year-old daughter - by 'gassing' her in a car - has been sentenced for breaching her bail conditions by spending time with the girl.