A lawyer accused of the theft of €400 insisted to gardaí during a voluntary interview that he had returned this money to his client.

Cahir O’Higgins (49) has pleaded not guilty to one count of theft of €400 in July 2016 and four counts of attempting to pervert the course of justice in December 2017.

Mr O’Higgins, of Cahir O’Higgins and Company, Kingsbride House, Parkgate Street, Dublin, denies the allegations against him. The court has learned that Mr. O’Higgins is a criminal defense lawyer with more than 20 years of experience.

The State’s case is that Mr O’Higgins stood in for a colleague to represent Raul Sanz Quilis, a Spanish national, who appeared at Dublin District Court on 30 July 2016, charged with criminal damage.

The judge said the case would be thrown out if a payment of 200 euros was made, and O’Higgins offered to use Sanz’s bank card to withdraw the money.

The prosecution alleges that O’Higgins made three withdrawals totaling €600 from the ATM and allegedly pocketed €400. A sum of €200 was paid to the court and the case against Mr Sanz was dismissed.

It is further alleged that O’Higgins in December 2017 provided gardaí with a copy of notes he claimed to have taken on July 30, 2016. The prosecution says O’Higgins knew that these notes contained false information and that they were not made. on July 30, 2016.

Detective Garda Colm Kelly continued his testimony on Monday. In an interview, Mr O’Higgins had said his view was that Judge John Coughlan of the District Court could make a compensation order and obtain permission to use Mr Sanz Quilis’ bank card “in anticipation of that type of order”.

He said that Mr. Sanz Quilis consented to the withdrawal of 600 euros from his account and that he “had no doubt that he had full permission to use his card.”

During the interview, Mr. O’Higgins was asked why he withdrew 600 euros. He responded that it was the most he could withdraw and that he “wanted enough cash” to arm himself in case the judge changed the order and receive direct compensation or a donation to a charity of more than 200 euros.

O’Higgins said he put 400 euros and the charge sheets in an envelope and handed it to Sanz Quilis after the case was filed. O’Higgins said he was “absolutely certain” he did not retain any property from Sanz Quilis.

Mr O’Higgins pleaded not guilty to the theft of €400 on July 30, 2016 at the Londis store in Parkgate Street.

He also pleaded not guilty to four charges of perverting the course of public justice, contrary to common law, on December 8 and 17, 2017, within the State and at Bridewell Garda Station in Dublin.

The prosecution’s case closed this afternoon. The trial at Dublin Circuit Court continues before Judge Martin Nolan and a jury.