The Gazette 1994

GAZETTE

JULY 1994

client had applied to the Law Society to retire and the Society had acceded to his application. The article reported that Mr. Keane had stated in his affidavit that he had realised the enormity of what he had done. Some time afterwards, the Law Society had carried out an inspection of his practice. The will and probate were not part of the enquiry. Mr. Keane went on to say "I broke down and disclosed to the Law Society what I had down to create the will. Shortly afterwards I retired from practice as a solicitor." Judge Kevin Lynch granted the application to condemn the will and directed that all papers be sent to the Disciplinary Committee of the Law Society. The following day the Irish Independent reported that William Keane could face penalties ranging from censure to striking off the Roll of Solicitors. The Law Society was quoted as saying that the Disciplinary Committee of the High Court would investigate the matter and on foot of its findings the Society would petition the President of the High Court "for an appropriate sanction, if any".

page story in The Kerryman on 19 May which claimed that playwright, John B Keane, had paid out £20,000 restitution following the discovery of

personal injury claims. The reports noted that Mr. Martin had paid back £180,000 to the Law Society arising from claims on its Compensation Fund, had co-operated with a Law Society investigation and had handed back his practising certificate. The Irish Times of 21 April, reported on a call by Fine Gael Justice Spokesman, Gay Mitchell TD, that the legislature, in consultation with the judiciary, should provide for a charter of rights for citizens appearing before the courts. Mr. Mitchell said that while the courts must remain independent of the legislature and the Government, this did not mean that went on in them, especially their administration, might not be of legitimate interest to the legislature and the Government. The charter should include a promise of efficiency, an overhaul of procedures to speed-up proceedings, a guarantee of courtesy and consideration, a guarantee of privacy and confidentiality for non-accused persons and a complaints procedure. Courts Charter

irregularities in his son's legal practice at the end of 1992. A

spokeswoman for the Law Society was quoted as saying that at the time of the investigation of Mr. Keane's practice the concern of the Law Society had been to protect the public and clients. A number of considerations had been taken into account in determining the Society's approach to the case including extraordinary, extenuating, compassionate circumstances, the fact that Mr. Keane had given a binding and irrevocable undertaking never to practise again and that full restitution had been made and no claim had arisen on the Society's Compensation Fund. The Irish Independent reported on the matter in a similar manner on 20 May. All the national newspapers of 19 May reported that a former solicitor, Gerard Martin, was given a suspended two year gaol sentence on charges relating to the pursuit of false

Barbara Cahalane

•

The matter was the subject of a full-

C o m p e n s a t i on F u n d P a y m e n t s - M a y , 1 9 9 4

200.00

Malocco & Killeen, Chatham House, Chatham Street, Dublin 2.

36,268.77

Diarmuid Corrigan, 6 St. Agnes Road, Crumlin, Dublin 12. Forde, 52 O'Connell Street, Ennis, Co. Clare. Christopher

The following claim amounts were admitted by the Compensation Fund Committee and approved for payment by the Council of the Law Society at its meeting in May 1994. The name of the solicitor in respect of whom the claim(s) arose is listed in the left hand column.

James C Glynn, Dublin Road, Tuam, Co. Galway.

1,690.00

1,170.00

IR£

Anthony O'Malley, James Street, Westport, Co. Mayo.

2,209.00

9,900.00

Jonathan PT Brooks, 17/18 Nassau Street, Dublin 2.

Michael Dunne,

2,109.62

63/65 Main Street, Blackrock, Co. Dublin

70,823.09

2,437.50

John K. Brennan, Mayfield,

John M. O'Dwyer,

14,838.20

40 North Great Georges St., Dublin 1.

Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford.

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