A District Court Judge found guilty of attempting to deceive an elderly friend out of half his estate is to resign.

60-year-old Heather Perrin is facing up to 5 years in prison after deceiving Thomas Davis into leaving €500,000 to her children.

Last week the Judge of Lambay Court, Malahide in Dublin was convicted by a jury of tricking a family friend into leaving half of his estate to her 2 children.

It was the first time in the history of the State that a practicising Judge was convicted of a serious offence,

Ms Perrin was a practicing solicitor when pensioner Thomas Davis instructed her that his assets valued at €1 million were to be left to his two nieces.

The Perrin children were to receive €2,000 each in his will which he signed without reading on January 22nd 2009.

Sentencing this week

He told the court he could not believe it when he found out months later that the Perrin's had been written in to inherit half of his estate.

Last Wednesday she was convicted of deceiving Mr. Davis and this evening it emerged that she has offered to step down as a judge with immediate effect.

Her resignation will be given to President Michael D. Higgins via the Department of the Taoiseach.

She is due to be sentenced for her deception this Wednesday.