The Gazette 1976

GAZETTE

Patrick McCafferty, Kilmacrenan, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal. Gerard McCanny, The Old Rectory, Baronscourt, Newtownstewart, Co. Tyrone. Raymond McGovern, Lubraig, 83, Foster Avenue, Mount Merrion, Co. Dublin. Patrick McMullin, The Grove, Stranorlar, Co. Donegal. Patrick McNally, 17, Parkowen, Quaker Road, Cork. Bernard O'Beime, Bellevue, Coolgraney Road, Arklow, Co. Wicklow. Catherine O'Donnell, 33, Garville Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6. Thomas O'Donnell, Tirconnell, North Circular Road, Limerick. Dona! P. O'Hagan, B.A, (Mod.) L.L.B., Ravensdale, Dundalk, Co. Louth. Anne O'Reilly, 21, Orwell Park, Rathgar, Dublin 6. Irene K. O'Sullivan, 11, North Circular Road, Dublin 7. Brendan Rossiter, Clara Road, Tullamore, Co. Olfaly. James J. Ryan, Innisfail, Kickham Street, Thurles, Co. Tipperary. Sharon Scally, 57, Shrewsbury Lawn, Cabinteely, Co. Dublin. Alan Shatter, 14, Crannagh Park, Dublin 14. Joanne Sheehan, Mervyn, The Hill, Monkstown, Co. Dublin. Gerard Walsh, 325, Grace Park Estate, Dublin. Henry Ward, 103, Tyrconnell Road, Inchicore, Dublin 8. Brian Whitaker, 148, Stillorgan Road, Dublin 4. The Centre is run by a solicitor who is assisted by a panel of solicitors and students. The reason for estab- lishing this centre was to demonstrate the necessity for a Community Centre. From the commencement the Coolock Centre was inundated with clients and the Centre's caseload has continued at this high level. Be- cause of this, liaison with local groups and community contacts generally have played a major role, but it is hoped that this situation can be rectified during the coming year. The report included a case load study which showed the content and extent of cases in each category. The Family Law Category was by far the largest, compris- ing almost 40% of the caseload. Criminal matters were the next largest group with Landlord and Tenant prob- lems following close behind. A new category was open- ed to deal with Labour Law problems which FLAC felt was a potentially large area and our figures in this group have borne this out. During the past year FLAC have made Reports and recommendations to the Government Task Force on children and Child Care and also to the Criminal Legal Aid Committee. The Report also outlined the developments in Legal Aid. The Pringle Committee on Civil Legal Aid which was established in July 1974 in still silting. Mr. Brian Gallagher, solicitor, is the FLAC representative on the Committee. The Council was disappointed that the Minister for Justice saw fit to set up a separate Com- mittee to look into the scheme of Legal Aid in Criminal cases, especially as the Pringle committee might have considered this problem. During the past 18 months both solicitors and barristers have withdrawn from the State scheme of Criminal Legal Aid. At present the barristers are not operating the scheme and they await

educational system now in operation. On behalf of my colleagues on the Council and my- self 1 bid you welcome and again congratulate you on your achievements. Parchments were then presented to the following newly qualified solicitors: — Brian Adams, Cormac Street, Tullamore, Co. Offaly. Bernard Armstrong, Rosses Point, Co. Sligo. Diarmuid Barry, Mountcharles, Donegal. David Bergin, 12, Orwell Park, Rathgar, Dublin 6. James Binchy, Knights Lodge, Charleville, Cork. Ciaran Branigan, 78, Merville Road, Stillorgan, Co. Dublin. Laura M. Casey, The Square, Rathkeale, Co. Limerick. Dominic Dowling, 6, Woodlawn Park, Churchtown, Dublin 14. Beatrice Ensor, Lymington Road, Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford. Janet Erskine, 27, Wellington Lane, Dublin 4. Peter Flanagan, Maddenstown, Curragh, Co. Kildare. Paul Fleming, Hazeldene, Putland Road, Bray, Co. Wicklow. Margaret Gleeson, 2, Neville Road, Rathgar, Dublin 6. Christopher Grogan, Main Street, Leixlip, Co. Kildare. Terence Hanahoe, 8, Parliament Street, Dublin 2. Veronica Huggard, Butler Arms Hotel, Waterville, Co. Kerry. Fionnuala Murphy, Gort, Co. Galway. Anthony Murray, St. Helens, O'Connell Avenue, Limerick. The 1976 Report on the Free Legal Advice Centres shows once again the need for free legal aid and advice in Ireland. FLAC have consistently advocated that a comprehensive State system of Legal Aid should be in- troduced, and the statistics of the FLAC centres for 1975 bear out this need. A total of 3869 cases were dealt with by the eight part-time centres, operating on only one night each week. The full time Centre at Coolock dealt with 816 cases during the months from April 1975 to January 1976. These figures show the number of legal needs that would not have been met but for the existence of FLAC and they place a ques- tion mark on the extent of unmet legal needs in our society, which should be the concern of lawyer and law student alike. The Report commented on the Seminar on Legal Aid that was held in Dublin in December 1974. The purpose was twofold. Firstly to acquaint those in- volved in the Irish Law System with the problems en- countered in the English Legal Aid scheme and second- ly to provide informed discussion on what type of legal service system would be most appropriate in Ireland. Guest speakers were invited and included a represen- tative from the Brent Community Law Centre and two representatives fromt the Legal Action Group. Mr. John Finlay spoke on behalf of FLAC. The Council of FLAC felt that the Seminar had performed a public service for those who will be working an Irish system of legal aid. Undoubtedly the major event for FLAC during the period under review was the founding and opening of the Coolock Community Law Centre on 2 April 1975. 112 The FREE LEGAL ADVI CE CENTRES (Dublin) Summary of Report for 1976.

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