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GAZETTE
JULY/AUGUST 1982
ASSOCIATION OF CRIMINAL LAWYERS
The launching of the Association of Criminal Lawyers
at a reception at the Society's offices at Blackhall Place,
Dublin, on Thursday, July 22, was marked by the address
of the President of the High Court, Mr. Justice Thomas A.
Finlay, in which he called for reform in the manner in
which criminal trials are conducted.
The President of the Incorporated Law Society, Mr.
Brendan Allen described the formation of the Association
as an understandable and highly desirable development.
Mr. Justice Finlay noted that the Association had
already had its sea trials and acknowledged the assistance
he had received from it with regard to change he proposed
for the Central Criminal Court. Greatly welcoming its
formation, he said it was probable that in 50 or 100 years
time, the quality of law in society was "unlikely to be tested
by an evaluation of its Chancery law or the complexity of
its tax laws, but by the efficiency and fairness of its
criminal law. The formation of a body which would lead to
an exchange of ideas and the maintenance of standards
was greatly to be welcomed.
The President had prefaced his remarks by stating that
there were likely to be changes in the criminal law, but
these would be matters of political debate and it would be
inappropriate for him to enter into a discussion on them.
However, there was an aspect of the criminal law which
was outside political controversy which he would like
those present to consider and he believed that the average
modern criminal trial was far too long; the procedures and
proofs necessary were more likely to confuse and obscure
the real issues for the jury, than enlighten them.
Mr Brendan Allen, said he was pleased to have been
afforded the opportunity during his term of office of
welcoming the formation of an Association of Criminal
Lawyers.
Already, he said, the Law Society recognised special
interest groups amongst its members in the areas of
Conveyancing, Litigation, Company Law and Taxation
Law. It was an understandable and highly desirable
development that those Lawyers who were participating to
a greater than average degree in the area of Criminal Law
should come together to promote their own special interest
group. Since the average age of the profession was now
quite young and that this was reflected amongst Criminal
Lawyers, it was a good thing, in his view, that there be an
Association available to them for guidance and as a
standard-setting body in an area of Law which is
extremely complex and has a very great sense of
immediacy, and public responsibility.
Looking at the work of special interest groups and
particularly ofthe Association ofCriminal Lawyers, in the
wider context of the Society's role as a commentator on
legislative proposals or other developments, Mr Allen
wished to make it clear, however, that at all times, the
Society, through its Council, must reserve its position and
may, on occasion, not necessarily agree with the
sentiments of the particular interest group. In the case of
the Association of Criminal Lawyers, it was important
that this be clearly understood at the present time, when
legislative proposals in relation to Criminal Law are in
contemplation. The Society would make its views known
in the context of an overall national view.
Mr Allen continued, on behalf of the Education
Committee and of the staffof the Society's Law School, to
express particular gratitude and appreciation to those
members of the Association who had given very much of
their time towards the provision of training and refresher
courses in the area of Criminal Law •
Society of
Young Solicitors
Officers, 1983/83
Chairman: Petria McDonnell
Secretary: Carol Fawsitt
Treasurer: John Lynch.
Medico Legal Society
Of Ireland
Patron: Professor Dermot Holland
President Royal College of Physicians
OFFICERS OF SOCIETY
President: Carmel Killeen, Solicitor
Secretary: Brendan Garvan, Solicitor
Treasurer: Alan Woods, Solicitor
Council: District Justice A. B. Cassidy
Doctors: Liam Daly, Robert Towers,
Declan Gilsenan, Sarah Rogers.
Solicitors: Thelma King, Mary Dolan, Cliona O Tuama,
Denis Greene, Eamonn Hall, Brian Murphy.
Eamonn Hall, Brian Murphy.
Barristers: Matthew Russell.
Immediate Past President
Dr John Harbison, State Pathologist
Comment.
(Continued from p. 147)
Dublin High Court non-Jury List) a "Bar" servicing each
venue would very quickly form and Solicitors could more
readily organise the attendance of necessary medical and
other specialist witnesses.
In fact, one of the less obvious advantages that might
result from more High Court Sittings away from the
convenient locations (for doctors) of Dublin and Cork is
that solicitors and Counsel for both parties might begin to
think more seriously of agreeing the medical evidence in
the not-so-serious cases.
Unless lawyers (i.e. Solicitors, Barristers and Judges)
constantly look at ways to improve and expedite the
administration ofJustice, they are failing thepublic, whom
it is their intended objective to serve. •
157