The Gazette 1972

OBITUARY

Dermod was appointed assistant law agent to Dublin Corporation in the year 1942 and in 1949 he was appointed law agent succeeding the late Mr. Ignatius Rice. The post of law agent to Dublin Corporation is perhaps the most onerous legal post in the State, but Dermod carried out his onerous and many duties with skill, integrity, ability and efficiency. A man of large stature, he gave the impression of being austere and distant; in reality, he was nothing of the sort and to those who knew him he was "a big man" in every sense of the word, a man of great per- sonal charm and wit. He suffered perhaps from a re- served disposition which did not make him more sidely known. But those who knew him found him a loyal and devoted friend, a helpful colleague and as one colleague said "he was like a father figure". There was no branch of the law with which he was not familiar and he was also an authority on case law. He took an active interest in the affairs of the profession and at the time of his death he was chairman of the Local Authority Solicitors' Association. Dermod was a man of simple pursuits. He played golf, enjoyed a day at the races, liked reading, he trav- elled extensively on the continent, but his great pursuit was gardening and he was an excellent flower grower. Dermod was never a man for idle talk but on what better note could we finish than to say of him "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith" (2 Timothy 4:1-8). Mr. Edward Warren, solicitor, died in the District Hospital, Gorey, Co. Wexford, on 26th Feb. 1972. Mr. Warren was admitted in Trinity Term and practised under the style of "Edward Warren & Sons" at Gorey and Enniscorthy. Mr. Joseph Gilmartin, solicitor, died while on holidays in Spain, 8 March 1972. Mr. Gilmartin was admitted in Michaelmas Term 1961 and was sole partner in the firm of Messrs Garvey, Smith and Flanagan in Castlebar, Co. Mayo. Criticised the cost of living, solicitors have had to carry over the last eleven years increases in salaries and postal, tele- phone, heating and lighting charges all in the region of 100%. All suggested increases in solicitors' remuneration are made by statutory committees, not by the Law Society. In response to the recent recommendation for a 42% increase by a statutory committee the Minister suggested a compromise figure of 20%, a total of 32% since 1961 in strange contrast to the levels for Dail deputies and others. Solicitors' gross remuneration in property transac- tions has, by reason of the increase in property value since 1964, risen by 60% which the Minister apparently regards as more than sufficient to cover the 100% rise in general overheads.

Dermod Walsh—An Appreciation The recent and unexpected death of Dermod M. F. Walsh, Law Agent to Dublin Corporation, has removed from the ranks of the legal profession, not alone one of the foremost authorities on local government law, but also a brilliant all-round lawyer. His demise, after a very short illness, came as a great shock to his many colleagues both in the legal profession, in the local government service and innumerable friends throughout the country. He had been in his office two or three days before then and it was typical o fthe man that he died almost in harness, so devoted was he to his post. Of Western parentage, Dermod was Dublin born and was educated at Mount St. Joseph's College, Roscrea, and at the Jesuit College, Belvedere, Dublin. He was a brilliant student and after leaving school he decided to study law. He was apprenticed to the late Mr. John S. O'Connor, solicitor and one-time T.D. Here again he enjoyed a brilliant academic career and obtained his B.A. and LL.B. degrees at University College, Dublin, the latter with first class honours. Dermod was admitted as a solicitor in Trinity Term 1933. He was also active in the Solicitors Apprentices Debating Society and in the year 1930-31, during which our Secretary, Mr. Plunkett, was Auditor, Dermod won medals for oratory and legal debate. Dermod did not neglect sport, and was considered an excellent "blue" in rowing. Once qualified, Dermod went as an assistant solicitor to the office of Mr. Alfred Thornton, solicitor, Castlebar (who is happily still with us), and who was then both State Solicitor for County Mayo and Solicitor to Mayo County Council (which he still is) Here Dermod got a solid grounding not alone in Court work and practice, but in the many branches of local government law. He was a familiar figure in Courts throughout County Mayo not alone in the District Court but also in the Circuit Court where he was highly respected not alone by Judge or Justice, but by members of the legal profession. Clamp-down on Fees Over-dramatisation by the Minister for Justice of the claim for increased remuneration by solicitors was criticised by the President of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland, Mr. James W. O'Donovan. He said that it was very strange that the Minister pbjected to an increase of 42% in fees and succeeded having the Order annulled in the Seanad whose Members had increased their own remuneration in the same period by 100%. The cost of living, said Mr. O'Donovan has risen by 74% since 1960, solicitors remuneration has in- creased by only 12% in that time. During the period 1%1-1971 salaries of Dail deputies have been increased by 150%, of members of the Seanad by 100%, of the Judiciary by 100% and of senior civil servants by 85%. In addition to meeting their own personal increase in

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