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solicitor who is no longer in practice. There was
on the file a letter from this solicitor stating that he
had the will.
It appeared that member's pre
decessor had completely overlooked
this when
preparing the papers for probate and the papers
were sworn in respect of the earlier will. Member
was also reasonably certain that no deliberate fraud
had been perpetrated by
the client.
Member
immediately informed the executor of the position
and he stated that the grant would have to be
brought in together with an affidavit setting out the
facts. He also telephoned the Probate Office and
stated the facts without giving the names.
The
Probate Office stated that it would be necessary for
the executor to make a full disclosure and member
pointed out that he thought that he was under
certain professional obligations as to secrecy in
relation to the instructions given to his predecessor
by the executor. Member wrote several letters to
the executor asking him to call to discuss the
matter but these
letters were
ignored and he
enquired if his reporting of the facts to the Probate
Registrar would amount to a breach of professional
secrecy. Member pointed out that if he failed to
report the full position to the Registrar his conduct
might amount to a contempt of the Court of which
he is an officer. The Council on a report from a
committee were of opinion that member should send
to the Probate Office a copy of the letter received
by his predecessor from the solicitor disclosing the
existence of the other will and that he should advise
the client and that solicitor of the action taken.
Instructions to sue on a Wagering Contract
The Council on a report from a committee advised
a member who had been instructed to recover an
amount which arose out of a wagering transaction
that he could, on the client's instructions, write a
letter requesting payment of the amount alleged to
be due but without any request for costs. The letter
should contain no threat of proceedings failing
payment and member was advised that he should
take no further step in the matter.
LIBRARY
VACATION ARRANGEMENTS
The Library will be closed from
5
p.m. on
Thursday, ijth August, 1963 until Monday, 9th
September, 1963 at 10 a.m.
The Library will be open for the sitting of the
Vacation Court on Wednesday, 28th August, but
will be closed on Tuesday, iyth September. The
Library will be closed from Friday,
zjth
September,
1963 at 5 p.m. until Monday, yth October, 1963 at
10 a.m. Members requiring books urgently should
apply to the General Office.
EXAMINATION DATES
ist Law, September 2nd and 3rd; 2nd Law,
September 2nd and 3rd ; 3rd Law, September 4th,
jth and 6th; Preliminary Examination, September
3rd;
ist Irish Examination, September
i3th;
2nd Irish Examination, September i3th and I4th.
PROCEEDINGS AGAINST SOLICITORS
By order of the President of the High Court dated
the 3Oth May, 1963, on an application by the Society,
it was ordered that the name of Thomas Crowley
who formerly practised at Dunmore, Co. Galway,
be struck off the roll of solicitors. A stay on the
operation of the order was granted until
the
ijth June, 1963.
UNIVERSITY OF DUBLIN
TRINITY COLLEGE
Mr. F. E. Dowrick, M.A., F.T.C.D., having
resigned from the office of Registrar of the Law
School, the Board of the College has appointed the
Regius Professor of Laws, Dr. V. T. H. Delany,
to be Registrar of the School in his place. In future,
all enquiries respecting the Law School should be
directed to Professor Delany.
The Board has also appointed Mr. Dowrick to be
the tutor responsible for the collegiate interests of
all students, including solicitors' apprentices, attend
ing courses in the Law School.
COMMISSIONERS OF CHARITABLE
DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS
The Commissioners of Charitable Donations and
Bequests will meet on the i9th September during
the Long Vacation to facilitate the dispatch of urgent
business.
LOCAL GOVERNMENT (PLANNING
AND DEVELOPMENT) BILL, 1963
This Bill, which has passed the Committee stage
in Dail fiireann, has embodied in it the new principle
of obligation on all local authorities to prepare a
plan within three years of a date to be appointed by
the Minister for Local Government.
(Section 19.)
There is also a general obligation on every owner or
occupier of land
to obtain permission for the
development thereof and " development " is defined
as " the carrying out of works on, in, or under land
or the making of any material change in the use of
any structures or other land". Special reference is
made to advertisement hoardings, caravan sites and
deposit of rubbish, builders' waste, mining or
industrial waste, etc. (Section 24 and Section 3.)