Defendant who called judge "abusive" gets a second dose of media coverage
An episode of 24 Hours in Police Custody airing last weekend shed light on the downfall of a prominent surgeon who orchestrated a nearly £1 million mortgage fraud. Anthony McGrath, once an orthopaedic surgeon, portrayed himself as a stylish figure, referring to himself as the “Irish James Bond” and driving a Maserati, adopting the moniker ‘Paddy Bond’.
McGrath and his wife, Anne-Louise, a GP, tied the knot in 2009 and relocated to London, where they had four children. The couple spared no expense, sending their kids to private schools and owning a £1.1 million, seven-bedroom home in Hertfordshire. They also rented a cottage in Bedfordshire at £2,400 per month.
However, McGrath’s seemingly perfect life was a façade. He staged a burglary at their home, falsely reporting to the police that antiques valued at £180,000 had been stolen. According to The Sun, he listed 95 missing items, including a £35,000 Persian rug, various clocks, artworks, and a 19th-century red marble fireplace.
It was later revealed that some of these items had been transported to another property owned by the family in Ireland. Facing significant debts, McGrath devised a string of fraudulent mortgage applications, obtaining nearly £1 million from Lloyds Bank between 2012 and 2015.
McGrath’s crimes caught up with him in 2019, following a four-month trial where he was convicted of multiple charges, including insurance fraud, perverting the course of justice, and mortgage fraud. The judge at Luton Crown Court handed him an eight-year sentence.
The judge, Barbara Mensah, labelled McGrath “arrogant and greedy” and described his story as “a very sorry tale.” Addressing McGrath, she remarked: “Through your talents, you rose to be a successful orthopaedic surgeon, but through greed and arrogance, you have fallen.” McGrath shouted back: “You are an abusive, racist and terrible person. Shame on you for suppressing the truth.”
In March 2021, McGrath was given a deadline of three months to repay over £500,000. If he failed, an additional five years would be added to his sentence. Following a Proceeds of Crime Act hearing, he was ordered to pay £564,518.
24 Hours in Police Custody can be seen on Channel 4.
