The Gazette 1991

NOVEMBER 1991

GAZETTE

M e d i c o - L e g al Soccer Cup On Friday, 30 August, 1991 the inaugural Medico-Legal Soccer Match, sponsored by Astra Pharmaceuticals took place at Blackhall Place. The doctors team and solicitors team were made up of members of the respective professions who practise in Dublin. The game was the first ever Soccer game between the two professions and both teams were anxious to become the first winners of the cup. The game was keenly contested and despite some comments that because of the robust tackling it appeared that both sets of players were anxious to drum up business for their respective professions, the game was played in a sporting manner. The doctors took the lead after 20 minutes with a well worked goal scored by Dr. John McHale and the solicitors levelled scores shortly before half time. After a penalty that was hotly disputed by the doctors both teams upped the tempo in the second half. While the solicitors applied most of the pressure and missed a number of chances to take the lead the doctors scored a late winner when Dr. Dermot Kelly beat the attempted off-side trap and the despairing Dan Murphy in the solicitors' goal with a well struck shot to the corner of the net. The game was followed by a buffet reception in the members bar. Bill Jolley represented the solicitors profession and presented the cup to the winning captain, Dr. Dermot Kelly, and in an eloquent speech informed those present that the solicitors would be going all out to win the cup next year. In reply for the doctors Mr. Austin Leahy said they looked forward to another keenly fought contest next year. After the presentation the real business of the night got under way and the cup was last seen being carried down Leeson Street in the early hours of the morning! ._.

SADSI Vanquish Dentists On Wednesday, 25 September, 1991 fifteen aggressive litigators lined out against a lean and fit Dublin Dental Hospital team. SADSI secured an early lead with a goal from Tim O'Leary. However, after the first quarter the dentists found their form and took control of midfield. By half-time they had built up a substantial lead. SADSI spirits were further dampened in the second half by some excellent point scoring from the dentists. However, with ten minutes to go, encouraged by fanatical supporters, SADSI resur- rected their pride, battled hard and with the skill of players like Tom O'Regan and Dave O'Donnell - the backs, Joe Varley at midfield and Niall Clancy at full forward, coupled with a timely charge by the for- wards, SADSI rattled the dentists net four times to win the match 6:3 to 2:13. Finally, a word of thanks to the referee who played the extra time which resulted in the SADSI victory - another example of the import- ance of knowing your judgel

it become a self-perpetuating body of strutting peacocks, each slowly but surely climbing the safety non- slip ladder to Presidency or is it Excellency? These questions are not of course strictly relevant to the topic of MDPs under discussion but as the article is written in our Law Society publication and as it smacks of protectionism, I think some of the fundamentals need examination. Under the heading "Practical Consideration" at paragraph [xi] the article refers to a reduction in freedom of choice in rural areas should MDPs be established. Why would this be. a realistic practical difficulty? The author must be complimented on the time he has taken to open the issues involved in MDPs. As he states, there seems to be little interest in the matter and it will be of benefit to all to open up these issues but, rather than approach it in a negative or protectionist way for lawyers and rather than seeking to impose lawyers as the leaders in MDPs without good reason, it is surely time to redefine the role of a solicitor in a rural and city con- text. I suggest the role can be en- hanced by greater technical knowledge and expertise being disseminated to those interested in the profession at large rather than being concentrated in the hands of the larger firms. In this regard it would be very welcome to see some of the Continuing Legal Education lectures described as specialised rather than the almost universal 'general' classification given to them. In my limited experi- ence the numbers attending these lectures would seem to more than justify on a cost basis, specific technical expertise rather than a general overview of any particular area under discussion.

Kevin Murphy

SADSI Auditorship 1992

Nominations for the post of Auditor are invited to reach Joe Kelly, c/o The Law Society before 5.00p.m. Friday, 8 November, 1991. • Each nominee must be pro- posed and seconded by appren- tices under indentures on the 1 November, 1991. • Each nominee must be under indentures until 31 December, 1992. • Results of Election to be an- nounced at AGM in December. •

To conclude I wish you the very best in your term of office.

Yours faithfully,

John G. Murphy, JOHN A. SINNOTT & CO.

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