The Gazette 1958-61

DUBLIN SOLICITORS' BAR ASSOCIATION A MEETING of the Council was held on Wednesday, 4th February, 1959. Votes of sympathy were passed with the relatives of the late Mr. Scan O h-Uadhaigh, a former Presi dent of the Association, and of the late District Justice Fitzpatrick. With a view to achieving an improvement in the standard of service rendered by District Court Civil Process Servers, the Sub-Committee dealing with the subject was requested to seek a further interview with the County Registrar to make new suggestions. The Meeting thanked the Sub-Committee who had devoted much time and trouble to the preparation of Administration of Estate Reminders, and noted that these are now being printed, and will shortly be available. It is expected that they should be of con siderable help to practitioners. Under new arrangements the Metropolitan Dis trict Court Office will no longer prepare Attendance and Instalment Orders under the Enforcement of Court Orders Acts. This change in procedure should assist solicitors in controlling the amount of time taken up in these proceedings, provided that there is no delay in the signature of the orders, and their return to the solicitors concerned. A member wishing to adapt the Association's form of contract for sale applied for consent which was given. The Association's form of draft letting agreement is being reprinted, and will shortly be available at a price of one shilling per copy from the Honorary Treasurer, Mr. Rory O'Connor. The next Meeting was fixed for Wednesday, 4th of March, 1959. PROCEEDINGS AGAINST SOLICITORS BY order made on the nth day of July, 1958, the Chief Justice directed that the name of Thomas K. Fitzgibbon, who formerly practised at 18, Summer Street, North Circular Road, Dublin, under the name of Michael J. Dunne & Company, be struck off the roll of solicitors on the ground of his conviction on a criminal charge. By order made on the 3151 day of October, 1958, the Chief Justice directed that the name of Peadar Cowan, who formerly practised at 67, Dame Street, Dublin, be struck off the roll of solicitors on the ground of his conviction on a criminal charge. By order made on the 23rd day of January, 1959, the Chief Justice directed that the name of Alexander W. Hughes, who formerly practised at 3, Lower Merrion Street, Dublin, under the name of William C. Hogan & Sons, be struck off the roll of solicitors on the ground of bis conviction on a criminal charge.

A member has drawn attention to a judicial pro nouncement which should be noted in connection with the paragraph under the above heading in the November Gazette. In Attorney General v. Fitz gerald (68 I. L. T. R. 249) there was an appeal by Fitzgerald, the accused, against an order of the Cir cuit Judge refusing bail and remanding him in cus tody. The accused had been tried on charges on which the jury had disagreed and fresh charges were pending against him. One of the grounds on which the State opposed the granting of bail was the alle gation that the accused had interfered with State witnesses. Per Hanna, J. "The next ground was that of interfering with State witnesses. I am not quite clear what 'interference' means as suggested by the affidavit. Both accused and his solicitor, if they so desire, may interview witnesses for the State, so long as they do not suborn them to perjury. The mere fact of talking to or having a drink with a State witness is not of itself sufficient to disentitle the applicant to bail." This dictum of Mr. Justice Hanna should serve to dispel any doubts, if they ever existed in this country, as to solicitors' rights in such cases. (The Gazette, February 1944, page 44). DECEASED SOLICITORS' PRACTICES INQUIRIES have been received in reference to the following practices of the following deceased soli citors : Samuel R. Lindsay, 14, South Mall, Cork; Henry Noblett, 26, St. Andrew Street, Dublin; Henry Noblett, 74, South Mall, Cork; John Ruck- ley, 31, South Frederick Street, Dublin; Robert Mercer, 21, Marlborough Street; Thomas Donnelly, 27, Dawson Street, Dublin. Any member having any information in regard to the above practices and the disposal of client's papers should communicate with the Society. APPOINTMENTS MR. Desmond L. MacAllister, Solicitor, has been appointed Registrar of Titles and Deeds. Prior to this appointment, he was Deputy Regis trar andChief Examiner ofTitles in the Land Registry. Mr. A. J. O'Dwyer, B.A., B.L., has been appointed Deputy Registrar and Chief Examiner of Titles in the Land Registry. Prior to this appointment, he was an Examiner of Titles in that Office. Mr. Dermot D. Fanning, Solicitor, has been ap pointed an Examiner of Titles in the Land Registry. Prior to this appointment, he was Senior Legal Assistant in that Office. Mr. William T. Moran, Solicitor, has been ap pointed Senior Legal Assistant in the Land Registry. •He had been a Legal Assistant in that Office prior to his appointment.