Previous Page  574 / 822 Next Page
Information
Show Menu
Previous Page 574 / 822 Next Page
Page Background

DECEMBER 1988

The Discipl inary Commi t tee - Annual Report

COMM I T T E E:

Walter Beatty,

Chairman

W. B. Allen

Gerald Hickey

Michael Hogan

Donal Kelleher

Elma Lynch

William Osborne

Moya Quinlan

Grattan d'Esterre Roberts

Andrew F. Smyth

Between the 3rd September, 1987

and the 31st August, 1988 the

Disciplinary Committee met on 35

occasions.

The following applications were

considered by the Commi t t ee

during this period:

N ew Ap p l i c a t i o ns

51

Law Society

Prima facie cases found 24

No prima facie found

1

Awaiting prima facie

decision

15

Private

Prima facie cases found

2

No prima facie cases found8

Awaiting prima facie decision

1

A t Hea r i ng

26

Law Society

Misconduct

11

No misconduct

2

Adjourned generally

1

Adjourned

5

Awaiting hearing

3

Leave to w i t hd r aw

after inquiry directed

1

Postponed

1

Private

No evidence to

support complaint

1

Leave to withdraw

after inquiry directed

1

A p p l i c a t i o ns f r om

p r ev i ous year

31

A t hea r i ng

Law Society

Misconduct

15

No misconduct

6

Adjourned generally

4

Adjourned

5

Private

Adjourned

1

Sub j e ct ma t t e rs of c omp l a i n ts

Conveyancing

11

Civil Claims

5

Probate 2

Solicitors Accounts Regulations 8

P r i n c i pal g r o u n ds on w h i c h t he

C omm i t t ee f o u n d m i s c o n d u ct

Failed to

- r ep ly to correspondence

- c omp l y w i th directions of

the Law Society's

Registrar's Committee

- attend meetings of the

Registrar's Committee

14

Breaches of Solicitors'

Accounts Regulations

7

Delayed in completing a

conveyancing transaction

1

Deducted monies from

client's settlement cheque

wi t hout consent

1

Delayed/failed in performing

undertakings

6

Delayed in processing

personal injury claims

2

Failed to discharge client's

medical expenses until

matter listed for hearing

before this Committee

1

Failed to acocunt to the

complainant or his solicitor

in regard to monies

received or to hand over

papers and deeds when so

authorised

Failed to protect his client's

interests

Failed to properly represent

his clients

Serious delay in completing

administration

Delayed in perfection of the

complainants title

Failed to produce accounts

and vouch payments in

regard to the administration

of an estate

Cases p r e s en t ed t o t he

H i gh Co u rt b e t we en t he

3 r d Sep t embe r, 1 9 87

a nd t he 31st Au g u st 1 9 88

18

Struck off the Roll of

Solicitors

1

Undertaking not to practice 1

Censured - Suspended -

stay on order until

1/10/1988

1

Censured w i th costs

2

Censured, fined and costs

2

Fined w i th costs

1

Adjourned

7

Dismissed

2

Petition struck out on

solicitor's undertaking

to contribute £50 to the

Solicitors' Benevolent

Association

1

Awa i t i ng p r e s e n t a t i on t o

t he H i gh Co u rt

11

Cases o u t s t a n d i ng b e f o re

t he P r es i dent of t he H i gh

Co u r t f r om last year

27

Suspended - stay on order

until 1 October 1988

7

Undertaking to cease

practice as a solicitor

until further order

2

Fined w i th costs

2

Censured, fined w i th costs 1

Censured w i th costs

2

Petition Dismissed/

Struck Out

4

Adjourned

2

Decision reserved

7

Fines ranged from £50 to £1,000.

The Disciplinary Committee is an

independent statutory committee,

wholly independent of The Law

Society, appointed by the President

of the High Court to investigate

allegations of misconduct made

against solicitors. Its procedures

are regulated by the Solicitors' Acts

1954 and 1960 and by the rules

made thereunder.

Any person or body may make a

d i r ect

a p p l i c a t i on

to

t he

Disciplinary Commi t t ee for an

inquiry into the conduct of a

solicitor on the grounds of alleged

misconduct.

3 3 4