The Gazette 1993

GAZETTE

DECEMBER 1993

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Wi l l iam O'Rei l ly

Awards" reported a warning from the Law Society that limiting the level of claims compensation would be unjust, unworkable and unconstitutional. The article quoted a Law Society spokeswoman as saying that the Minister was trying to tackle the problem from the wrong end and arguing that the onus was on the Minister to show that capping awards would lead to a cut in insurance premiums. Mike Kemp of the Insurance Industry Federation was quoted as saying that the likely impact on insurance premiums of a cap on awards was difficult to quantify. In the Evening Herald of 16 November, 1993, Kerry McCarthy wrote a feature article entitled "Staking Claims in the Great Compo Goldrush" which reported on the IBEC survey and the consultants. "There is no doubt that Ireland is in the grip of compo fever," he said. The article reported that Seamus Brennan's proposal was being "fiercely resisted" by the Incorporated Law Society. Kerry McCarthy commented that it might also be necessary to consider curbing solicitors' advertising and their practice of free consultations which were seen as fostering the 'compo' culture. The Law Society issued a detailed statement on 18 November rebutting the IBEC case. The Dublin city edition of the Irish Independent of 19 November, 1993, reported this, saying that the Law Society had accused IBEC of using scare tactics to deter employees injured at work from taking civil legal action. The Law Society's statement pointed out that the IBEC study showed in fact that the frequency of claims was decreasing, not increasing, and said that it was outrageous of IBEC to suggest that people who suffered injuries in the workplace through no fault of their own should not make a claim. The Society's statement was also covered in the Irish Times of Monday 22 November under the heading "Workers' injury claims defended by Law Society." increase in the cost of medical insurance cover for hospital

Dymphna and the late William O'Reilly, who were guests at the Society's Annual Conference in May, 1993.

Willie passed away on 20 November 1993 in his 90th year. To a great many solicitors, particularly those who qualified between 1946 and 1978 Willie and his wife Dymphna (to everyone "Mrs. O.") were an integral part of their student lives and their memories of Solicitors' Buildings in the Four Courts. Sergeant William O'Reilly, a Wexfordman, commenced his long association with the Law Society in 1946 after retiring from the Irish Army in which he had served since May 1922. During the War of Independence, Willie had played his part as a boy messenger for General Sean MacEoin. As part of his army service Willie acted for many years as personal bodyguard to General Richard Mulcahy, then a TD and up to 1932 a Government Minister. When Willie applied for the position of resident warden of Solicitors' Buildings he received a rare written testimonial from General Mulcahy who referred to his "intimate and close relationship" with Willie, which led to wry queries from the interview board! For 32 years Willie and Mrs. O'Reilly were an essential part of the Society's activities at Solicitors' Buildings. If you wanted a consultation room Willie was the man. But it was the O'Reillys' association with the Solicitors Apprentices' Debating Society that

sandwiches downstairs in the O'Reilly drawing room were as important as the debates upstairs in the library. Willie's formal retirement in 1978 coincided with the Society's move to Blackhall Place. But the O'Reilly association with the Society continued, and still continues, through Mrs. O'Reilly, particularly in her attentive care of the overnight guests who stay at the Blackhall Place premises. On his retirement, as a small mark of the Society's appreciation, Willie was conferred by the then President, Gerry Mickey , with honorary life membership of The Law Club of Ireland. Willie's death, despite its sadness, brings with it for those of us older in vintage, the joy of recall of light- hearted student days long past. To a smaller, more privileged coterie there is the added bonus of recollection of late nights and early mornings (whether in the Four Courts or at SYS Seminar weekends) around the poker table. If degrees were conferred for that particular nefarious activity Willie would have been a PhD. If Willie has the 'deck' up there St. Peter had better watch his 'pence'. To Mrs. O'Reilly, son Brian, Solicitor, daughter-in-law, Jacinta, grandchildren, brother and other relatives, we offer our sincere sympathy on the death of a man who was, most of all, a friend to us all. •

endeared them to generations of neophyte solicitors. The tea and

Barbara Cahalane

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