The Gazette 1961 - 64

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Publications Sale Office, G.P.O. Arcade, Dublin i
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CORONERS ACT, 1962
The Coroners Act, 1962, which became law on
nth April, 1962, will come into operation on
ist July, 1962, by order of the Minister for Justice.
The Act is comprehensive and replaces completely
the existing legislation on this subject. Section 35
prohibits a coroner from holding an inquest upon
a deceased person whose will he has drawn, or
under whose will he benefits, but he shall not
be taken to benefit under a will merely because
he is entitled to charge fees in connection with the
administration of the estate. Section 31 provides
that neither the verdict at the inquest nor any rider
thereto shall contain a censure or exoneration of any
person. The Act is' available from the Government
Publications Sale Office, G.P.O. Arcade, Dublin i
(Price 3/6d. nett).
GOVERNMENT COMMISSION ON THE
OPERATION OF THE COURTS
In connection with the Government Programme
of Law Reform a committee of inquiry was recently
appointed by the Minister for Justice to inquire
into the operation of the courts. The following are
the terms of reference of the committee :
(a) to inquire into the operation of the courts and
to consider whether the cost of litigation
could be reduced and the convenience of the
public and the efficient despatch of civil and
criminal business more effectively secured by
amending the law in relation to the jurisdiction
of the various courts and by making changes,
by legislation or otherwise, in practice and
procedure;
(b) to consider whether, and if so to what extent,
the existing right to jury trial in civil actions
should be abolished or modified ;
(i) to make interim reports on any matter or
matters arising out of the committee's terms
of reference as may from time to time appear
to the committee to merit immediate attention
or to warrant separate treatment.
The following are the members of the committee :
The Hon. Mr. Justice Brian Walsh, Judge of the
Supreme Court (Chairman) ; The Hon. Mr. Justice
George D. Murnaghan, Judge of the High Court;
The Hon. Mr. Justice Barra 6 Briain, President of
the Circuit Court; Justice Cathal 6 Floinn, President
of the District Court; Edward C. Micks, Senior
Counsel; Scan Butler, Barrister-at-Law; Dermot
P. Shaw, Solicitor; Brendan ack, LL.B.,
Solicitor ; Dr. C. S. Andrews, . ; Dr. Juan
N. Greene, M.B.; William M , B.Comm.,
C.A. ; Kenneth P. O'Reilly-Hyland.
PROCEEDINGS AGAINST SOLICITORS
By Order of the President of the High Court
dated 6th April, 1962, on a petition of the Society
grounded on a report of the Disciplinary Com
mittee, it was directed that the name of Stephen J.
McDonogh, who formerly practised at Tuam,
Co. Galway, be struck off the Roll of Solicitors.
By order of the President of the High Court dated
4th May, 1962, on a petition of the Society grounded
on a report of the Disciplinary Committee, it was
directed that Eamonn P. Carroll, who practised at
Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, be suspended from practice
until the 5th January, 1964.
MAYO SOLICITORS'
BAR ASSOCIATION
At the annual general meeting of the Association
which was held in the Courthouse, Castlebar, on
April 6th, 1962, the following officers and committee
were elected: President, John MacHale; Vice-
President, William Dillon-Leetch ; Hon. Treasurer,
Miss B. Hynes ; Hon. Treasurer, John F. Caravan;
Committee : T. V. O'Connor, Edward Minogue,
E. A. Corr, Michael Browne and Patrick U. Murphy.
DECISIONS OF PROFESSIONAL
INTEREST
Privilege—absolute—complaint of misconduct to Bar
Council.
The Benchers of an Inn of Court, when they sit
as delegates of the judges to determine questions
relating to call to the Bar or disbarment or suspension
are sitting as a court or tribunal recognised by law
and their proceedings are absolutely privileged.
That privilege does not extend to letters of com
plaint against members of the Bar addressed to the
Bar Council which, according to whether they are
of any substance or not, may be referred to the
Bench of the Barrister's Inn, since such a letter does
not initiate proceedings before the Bench and it is
not strictly or practically necessary for the ad
ministration of justice that absolute privilege should
attach to the functions of the Bar Council in relation
to the Inns of Court.
Quaere, whether such a communication addressed to
the relevant Inn of Court would have been
absolutely privileged.
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