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GAZETTE
OCTOBER 1978
10.11
The official opening of Blackhall Place and the manner in which it was
conducted was something that the Society can look back on with pride and one must feel
that the name of Moya Quinlan will always be remembered, for many of the beautiful
features and furnishings of our magnificent building.
10.12
As in the past, relations with the English, Scottish and Northern Ireland Law
Societies are constantly improving. A number of our members went to the International
Bar Association in Australia, ably led by our President. It has infiltrated from down under
that he and his wife hosted the most enjoyable social function of the whole congress and
that he was the most talented individual performer and did the finest international public
relations job of the year.
10.13
Sincere thanks to the Director General and the administration staff for all their
help and assistance during the year without which the communications from the Bar
Associations, Government Departments, media and other areas could not have been
related to this Committee — and above all to the members of this Committee for their
voluntary help, my grateful appreciation.
DISCIPLINARY
COMMITTEE
Gerard M. Doyle
Chairman
Thomas Bacon
James R. C. Green
Thomas Jackson
Francis Lanlgan
Patrick C. Moore
Patrick Noonan
Roderick O'Connor
Robert McD. Taylor
Gerard M. Doyle,
Chairman
11.1
This is a Statutory Committee appointed by the President of the High Court
under Section 6 (1) of Part III of the Solicitors Act 1960 and consists of Members of the
Council and such former Members of the Council as are practising as solicitors consisting
of not less than seven and not more than ten persons.
11.2
The Committee's main function is to hold on application by the Society, or
another person, an inquiry into the conduct of a solicitor on the ground of misconduct
("misconduct" is defined by Section 3 of the Solicitors Act 1960), first having considered
the application as to whether a
prima facie
case has been established for such an inquiry.
11.3
If there is no
prima facie
case then the Committee informs the applicant and no
further action is taken.
11.4
If a
prima facie
case is made the Committee proceeds to hold an enquiry and
subsequently report to the High Court, specifying therein the nature of the application and
the evidence laid before them and any other matters in relation to the solicitor which they
may think fit to report, including their opinion as to the fitness or otherwise of the solicitor
to be a member of the solicitor's profession, having regard to the contents of the report.
The High Court after consideration of the report may,
inter alia:
(i) strike the name of the solicitor off the roll;
(ii) suspend the solicitor from practice for such period as it may fix;
(iii) censure the solicitor, or censure him and impose a money penalty.
11.5
All the powers and functions of the Committee are set out in Part III of the
Solicitors Act 1960 and the Rules as to procedures in relation to the Disciplinary
Committee are contained in the Solicitors (Disciplinary Committee) Rules 1961, S.I. No.
30 of 1961.
11.6
Since 30 September 1977 the Disciplinary Committee met twenty-three times.
New cases commenced after 30 September 1977
42
Of the 42 new applications:
(a) No
prima facie
case decided
23
(b)
Prima facie
case found
13
(c) Cases not processed
6
11.7
Of the cases at hearing:
(a) Findings of misconduct
9
(b) Findings of no misconduct
10
(c) Withdrawn before hearing
2
(d) Adjourned generally
2
(e) Adjourned
4
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