344 / 462
GAZETTE
NOVEMBER 1991
it become a self-perpetuating body
of strutting peacocks, each slowly
but surely climbing the safety non-
slip ladder to Presidency or is it
Excellency? These questions are
not of course strictly relevant to the
topic of MDPs under discussion but
as the article is written in our Law
Society publication and as it
smacks of protectionism, I think
some of the fundamentals need
examination.
Under the heading "Practical
Consideration" at paragraph [xi]
the article refers to a reduction in
freedom of choice in rural areas
should MDPs be established. Why
would this be. a realistic practical
difficulty?
The author must be complimented
on the time he has taken to open
the issues involved in MDPs. As he
states, there seems to be little
interest in the matter and it will be
of benefit to all to open up these
issues but, rather than approach it
in a negative or protectionist way
for lawyers and rather than seeking
to impose lawyers as the leaders in
MDPs without good reason, it is
surely time to redefine the role of
a solicitor in a rural and city con-
text. I suggest the role can be en-
hanced by greater technical
knowledge and expertise being
disseminated to those interested in
the profession at large rather than
being concentrated in the hands of
the larger firms. In this regard it
would be very welcome to see
some of the Continuing Legal
Education lectures described as
specialised rather than the almost
universal 'general' classification
given to them. In my limited experi-
ence the numbers attending these
lectures would seem to more than
justify on a cost basis, specific
technical expertise rather than a
general overview of any particular
area under discussion.
To conclude I wish you the very
best in your term of office.
Yours faithfully,
John G. Murphy,
JOHN A. SINNOTT & CO.
•
326
M e d i c o - L e g al
Soccer Cup
On Friday, 30 August, 1991 the
inaugural Medico-Legal Soccer
Match, sponsored by Astra
Pharmaceuticals took place at
Blackhall Place. The doctors team
and solicitors team were made
up of members of the respective
professions who practise in Dublin.
The game was the first ever Soccer
game between the two professions
and both teams were anxious to
become the first winners of the
cup. The game was keenly
contested and despite some
comments that because of the
robust tackling it appeared that
both sets of players were anxious
to drum up business for their
respective professions, the game
was played in a sporting manner.
The doctors took the lead after
20 minutes with a well worked
goal scored by Dr. John McHale
and the solicitors levelled scores
shortly before half time. After a
penalty that was hotly disputed
by the doctors both teams upped
the tempo in the second half. While
the solicitors applied most of
the pressure and missed a number
of chances to take the lead the
doctors scored a late winner when
Dr. Dermot Kelly beat the
attempted off-side trap and the
despairing Dan Murphy in the
solicitors' goal with a well struck
shot to the corner of the net.
The game was followed by a buffet
reception in the members bar.
Bill Jolley represented the solicitors
profession and presented the
cup to the winning captain, Dr.
Dermot Kelly, and in an eloquent
speech informed those present that
the solicitors would be going all
out to win the cup next year. In
reply for the doctors Mr. Austin
Leahy said they looked forward to
another keenly fought contest next
year.
After the presentation the real
business of the night got under way
and the cup was last seen being
carried down Leeson Street in the
early hours of the morning!
._.
SADSI Vanquish
Dentists
On Wednesday, 25 September,
1991 fifteen aggressive litigators
lined out against a lean and fit
Dublin Dental Hospital team.
SADSI secured an early lead with
a goal from Tim O'Leary. However,
after the first quarter the dentists
found their form and took control
of midfield. By half-time they had
built up a substantial lead.
SADSI spirits were further
dampened in the second half by
some excellent point scoring from
the dentists. However, with ten
minutes to go, encouraged by
fanatical supporters, SADSI resur-
rected their pride, battled hard and
with the skill of players like Tom
O'Regan and Dave O'Donnell - the
backs, Joe Varley at midfield and
Niall Clancy at full forward, coupled
with a timely charge by the for-
wards, SADSI rattled the dentists
net four times to win the match 6:3
to 2:13.
Finally, a word of thanks to the
referee who played the extra time
which resulted in the SADSI victory
- another example of the import-
ance of knowing your judgel
Kevin Murphy
SADSI
Auditorship
1992
Nominations for the post of Auditor
are invited to reach
Joe Kelly,
c/o
The Law Society before 5.00p.m.
Friday, 8 November, 1991.
• Each nominee must be pro-
posed and seconded by appren-
tices under indentures on the 1
November, 1991.
• Each nominee must be under
indentures until 31 December,
1992.
• Results of Election to be an-
nounced at AGM in December.
•