GARDAÍ are in talks to interview disgraced former solicitor Michael Lynn voluntarily in Bulgaria or Hungary ahead of his possible return to Ireland.

The Sunday Tribune has learned officers from the Garda Bureau of Fraud Investigation have made contact with Lynn's Hungarian solicitors and behind-the-scenes negotiations are ongoing to arrange a meeting outside Ireland.

Any meeting will discuss his alleged widescale fraud of banks, other financial institutions and clients. Lynn cannot be arrested by gardaí in another jurisdiction.

There are no criminal charges pending against the former solicitor but an investigation into his property dealings is progressing well and gardaí believe they have collated enough evidence to charge him with several offences. However, they must interview him first.

A senior source said another possibility was that the former solicitor would return to Ireland voluntarily.

But as he has now been gone for almost two years, gardaí are exploring the possibility of travelling to interview him, if he agrees. It is understood Lynn has indicated he wishes to return to Ireland.

If Lynn refuses to meet gardaí voluntarily, the fraud squad will continue its investigation and hopes to eventually have enough evidence to issue a European arrest warrant.

However, this would be problematic as he has never been questioned and the case against him is complex. Gardaí have been building a case against Lynn by examining bank records, legal documents and interviewing senior bankers, individuals from other financial institutions and several of his clients.

He is at the centre of over 200 property-related legal proceedings involving liabilities of €80m. He was also struck off the roll of solicitors in Ireland in 2008.

By agreeing to meet gardaí before returning home, Lynn would be able to determine the extent of the criminal case being built against him in the presence of his solicitor. "Speaking to Mr Lynn is a priority and it's being looked into as to how this could be achieved. He can't stay on the run forever and we don't believe he wants to," added the source.

The courts have heard Lynn raised money to fund a property development and investment network by taking out multiple mortgages on a number of properties. A number of the developments he was involved in were outside Ireland, including Portugal and Hungary.