100 / 216
32
The Gazette of the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland.
[DECEMBER, 1922
to forget their past differences and, without
any sacrifice of principle, agree to work
together for their beloved land.
He hoped that when his successor was
addressing them next May he would be in the
happy position of assuring them that many,
if not all, of their difficulties had disappeared,
and that their profession would be playing a
large and honourable part in a new and
happier Ireland.
Mr. A. D. ORR seconded the adoption of
the Report.
SIR GEORGE ROCHE congratulated the
Council upon their re-election for the coming
year. Having regard to the troubled times
they had gone through, he thought that the
Council had furnished them with a very
satisfactory report, which had been wonder
fully supplemented by the address of the
President. He sincerely trusted that their
President would continue to occupy his
position on the Council for many years to
come.
He was glad to see that many of the
gentlemen upon the platform represented
some of the junior members of the profession.
He had heard a complaint from a number of
country Solicitors that their interests were
not looked after ; but when he was a member
of the Council they did as much as possible
to further the interests of
the country
Solicitors, but they found it very difficult to
get them to make suggestions as to what
they wanted.
If they now stated what they
required done, he was satisfied that the
Council would appreciate any suggestions
they made and carry them out.
Mr. SEAN Oh-UADHAIGH said that
there was a certain disposition in the city
to refuse to render the facilities to members
of their profession to which they had been
accustomed. He might say that he had no
personal feeling in the matter, but he would
ask, in the interest of the profession, that the
Society should take official cognisance of the
matter;
otherwise
it might become
a
practice. On Wednesday last he had been
engaged in an arduous case, which involved
the liberties and lives of twelve or thirteen
individuals ; he applied for an interview with
his clients, who were in military custody, the
case bringing into question the validity of
military courts.
Mr. O h-Uadhaigh then complained that,
although he repeatedly telephoned to the
military authorities, he did not obtain
admission to Kilmainham to interview his
clients until twenty past twelve next day.
When he went to leave the prison and got
to the gate he was told that there was no
authority
to
let him
leave
the prison,
although he explained that he was a Solicitor
and stated the object of his visit. After some
time he was permitted to leave.
If members of the profession trying to
carry out their duties in serious cases were
to be subjected to the farther disadvantage
of being detained in military custody at the
caprice of any officer, it would make things
more difficult than they were already, and
he thought, in the interest of the general
body,
that
the profession should stand
together in this matter and send in a protest.
Mr. JAMES BRADY said that he thought
Mr. O h-Uadhaigh's course should have been
to bring an action for false arrest and
imprisonment, and the whole thing would be
threshed out.
They knew that those in
control had very difficult and arduous tasks
to perform, and they were doing their duty
to the best of their ability to all concerned.
Some better arrangement should be made
with regard to allowing Solicitors to interview
prisoners, because at present the task was
very objectionable. A similar difficulty arose
after the rebellion of 1916, and as a result
of the action of the Council and an interview
with Sir John Maxwell they obtained permits
which served their purpose.
This matter
should now be remedied. Referring to the
election of members to the Senate, he was of
the opinion that the selections should have
been made by a vote of the entire body.
Mr. THOMAS R. CRAIG
said
their
Society should
insist on
their right
to
interview clients in custody at all times,
especially in a matter involving life and
death.
Mr. T. G. QUIRKE said this matter
should be very seriously taken up by the
Council.
If it had been brought before the
Council at the time, representations would
have been made with very good effect, as
in the time of Sir John Maxwell.
This
grievance struck at the root of their pro
fession. He thought that the matter should