A former Irish Rugby international is to face trial on 15 charges of theft, false accounting and deception.

57-year-old Brendan Mullin, of Stillorgan Road in Donnybrook, Dublin 4, appeared before Dublin District Court this afternoon.

The former Irish international had been the subject of a Garda National Economic Crime Bureau (BNECB) investigation into theft, false accounting and deception.

He is accused of nine counts of theft, totalling €573,000 from Bank of Ireland at two of the bank’s offices in Dublin 4 between 2011 and 2013.

On one of those occasions, It is alleged Mr Mullin stole €500,000 from the bank on December 16th, 2011.

He is alleged to have stolen a further €73,000 on eight other occasions from the bank.

Mr Mullin is also accused of five counts of false accounting within the same time period.

The court heard he was also charged of dishonestly, by deception, inducing two people, Nicola Johnson and Paul Gallagher, to sign a payment instruction with the intention of making a gain for himself or causing loss to another.

Wearing a suit and light blue shirt, Mr Mullin did not address the court throughout the hearing.

He was granted bail by Judge Michael Walsh on the condition he surrenders his passport.

He will appear in court again on November 11th, where a book of evidence will be served.