The Gazette 1961 - 64

Publications Sale Office, G.P.O. Arcade, Dublin i (Price 4d. nett). CORONERS ACT, 1962 The Coroners Act, 1962, which became law on nth April, 1962, will come into operation on ist July, 1962, by order of the Minister for Justice. The Act is comprehensive and replaces completely the existing legislation on this subject. Section 35 prohibits a coroner from holding an inquest upon a deceased person whose will he has drawn, or under whose will he benefits, but he shall not be taken to benefit under a will merely because he is entitled to charge fees in connection with the administration of the estate. Section 31 provides that neither the verdict at the inquest nor any rider thereto shall contain a censure or exoneration of any person. The Act is' available from the Government Publications Sale Office, G.P.O. Arcade, Dublin i (Price 3/6d. nett). GOVERNMENT COMMISSION ON THE OPERATION OF THE COURTS In connection with the Government Programme of Law Reform a committee of inquiry was recently appointed by the Minister for Justice to inquire into the operation of the courts. The following are the terms of reference of the committee : (a) to inquire into the operation of the courts and to consider whether the cost of litigation could be reduced and the convenience of the public and the efficient despatch of civil and criminal business more effectively secured by amending the law in relation to the jurisdiction of the various courts and by making changes, by legislation or otherwise, in practice and procedure; (b) to consider whether, and if so to what extent, the existing right to jury trial in civil actions should be abolished or modified ; (i) to make interim reports on any matter or matters arising out of the committee's terms of reference as may from time to time appear to the committee to merit immediate attention or to warrant separate treatment. The following are the members of the committee : The Hon. Mr. Justice Brian Walsh, Judge of the Supreme Court (Chairman) ; The Hon. Mr. Justice George D. Murnaghan, Judge of the High Court; The Hon. Mr. Justice Barra 6 Briain, President of the Circuit Court; Justice Cathal 6 Floinn, President of the District Court; Edward C. Micks, Senior Counsel; Scan Butler, Barrister-at-Law; Dermot

P. Shaw, Solicitor; Brendan P. McCormack, LL.B., Solicitor ; Dr. C. S. Andrews, D.Econ.Sc. ; Dr. Juan N. Greene, M.B.; William Murray, M. A., B.Comm., C.A. ; Kenneth P. O'Reilly-Hyland. PROCEEDINGS AGAINST SOLICITORS By Order of the President of the High Court dated 6th April, 1962, on a petition of the Society grounded on a report of the Disciplinary Com mittee, it was directed that the name of Stephen J. McDonogh, who formerly practised at Tuam, Co. Galway, be struck off the Roll of Solicitors. By order of the President of the High Court dated 4th May, 1962, on a petition of the Society grounded on a report of the Disciplinary Committee, it was directed that Eamonn P. Carroll, who practised at Ballinasloe, Co. Galway, be suspended from practice until the 5th January, 1964. At the annual general meeting of the Association which was held in the Courthouse, Castlebar, on April 6th, 1962, the following officers and committee were elected: President, John MacHale; Vice- President, William Dillon-Leetch ; Hon. Treasurer, Miss B. Hynes ; Hon. Treasurer, John F. Caravan; Committee : T. V. O'Connor, Edward Minogue, E. A. Corr, Michael Browne and Patrick U. Murphy. DECISIONS OF PROFESSIONAL INTEREST Privilege—absolute—complaint of misconduct to Bar Council. The Benchers of an Inn of Court, when they sit as delegates of the judges to determine questions relating to call to the Bar or disbarment or suspension are sitting as a court or tribunal recognised by law and their proceedings are absolutely privileged. That privilege does not extend to letters of com plaint against members of the Bar addressed to the Bar Council which, according to whether they are of any substance or not, may be referred to the Bench of the Barrister's Inn, since such a letter does not initiate proceedings before the Bench and it is not strictly or practically necessary for the ad ministration of justice that absolute privilege should attach to the functions of the Bar Council in relation to the Inns of Court. Quaere, whether such a communication addressed to the relevant Inn of Court would have been absolutely privileged. 8 MAYO SOLICITORS' BAR ASSOCIATION