Probed lawyer 'quits' after clients lost £300,000

Oct 19 2008 By Charles Lavery

A LAWYER being probed after buyers lost up to £300,000 on their dream homes is retiring aged 48.

Tony Murphy's firm, A.D. Murphy & Co, has shut down and phone calls from clients are unanswered.

One source said: "He has been walking about with a spring in his step, telling everyone he has retired."

The Sunday Mail revealed in January that 29 homebuyers had each lost £10,000 after paying deposits for flats through Murphy's law firm in Hamilton, Lanarkshire.

The flats were to be built in nearby Wishaw by builder Stephen Connelly. But he sold the site for £700,000 just before his firm, Glen Isla, went bust. Liquidators found Murphy had links to the firm and was paid £50,000 in fees by Glen Isla.

The Law Society of Scotland are investigating