Tag Archives: Law Society of Ireland

SOLICITORS around the country have been issued with guidelines that enable them to break with legal tradition – but still stay within the law – in order to respond to a sharp rise in the number of people making wills. Ennis solicitor Sharon Cahir said the guidance from The Law Society of Ireland, designed to facilitate social distancing, cocooning and self-isolation, had seen situations were clients signed wills while witnesses observed through the window of homes or cars. Ms Cahir put the rise in demand for legal services down, not just to concern over Coronavirus, but to the increase in time spent alone or with family members, and the opportunity to think about the future. “Covid-19 is bringing mortality into the consciousness of everybody,” she remarked. “I think what it has done is made people very conscious about whether they have a plan in place if they were to get ill. I find that the very vulnerable, who are cocooned, …

Clare Champion journalist Carol Byrne has again been acknowledged for her outstanding work in the field of legal reportage and features. At the annual Justice Media Awards event, held in Dublin on Thursday (June 22), Carol received her fifth Justice Media accolade for her story on how law researchers at the University of Limerick worked with the late Judge Michael Reilly, Ireland’s first inspector of prisons, on a report recommending the creation of a database to record deaths in Irish prisons. The judging panel awarded a certificate of merit in the regional print category to the Ennis resident for her article entitled ‘Breaking new ground in prison law: the late Judge Michael Reilly’. The graduates’ work with the late Judge Michael Reilly, was compiled in a report which was presented to Tánaiste and Minister for Justice Frances Fitzgerald last year. The Justice Media Awards recognise outstanding print and broadcast journalism that contributes to the public’s understanding of law and justice, the legal system, or specific …

Kilrush man, Judge Eugene O’Kelly has been nominated by the Government for appointment by the President to the circuit court. He is one of seven new appointees announced today (Thursday) to fill vacancies arising from a judge’s retirement, the appointment of a judge to the Court of Appeal and the appointment of five serving circuit court judges to the High Court, among them Mr Justice Caroll Moran. Judge O’Kelly, who currently presides over the Limerick District Court area, began his legal career as a solicitor in Kilrush. His practice covered all of Clare and far beyond. . Prior to his elevation to the bench, he was senior partner in the firm of O’Kelly Moylan Solicitors, with offices in Kilrush and Ennis. With wide experience in criminal law and civil litigation, he has been involved in a number of high-profile cases. In 2009 he was a solicitor to The Commission of Enquiry into the death of Gary Douch. Judge Eugene O’Kelly …