No end in sight as suspended solicitor saga continues

A senior judge’s observation more than five years ago that “nothing is satisfactory” about the situation of suspended Co Roscommon solicitor Declan O’Callaghan could be repeated.

By mid-2017 a senior investigating accountant was concerned about a possible €539,000 deficit in the client account arising from alleged breach of the Solicitors Account Regulations, including allegedly taking unauthorised fees from clients. It was later alleged €240,000 was taken in fees, without authority, out of one man’s account which held €400,000.Cathal Lombard’s Olympics story sounded too good to be true.

In a written response to queries from The Irish Times about the current position, the society said its regulation of practice committee made referrals to the SDT on the basis of alleged breaches of the Solicitors Accounts Regulations detected in the course of its investigations. According to legal sources, substantial compensation has been paid since 2018 to some clients of Mr O’Callaghan, including more than €400,000 to one family and about €500,000 to a disabled man.

He was found guilty of misconduct related to 26 allegations in 1990, and the High Court directed that he practise for three years under the supervision of a solicitor of not less than 10 years standing. Last month’s SDT findings concerning Mr O’Callaghan arose from a complaint initiated 14 years ago by Nirvana Property Holdings Ltd, a company of businessman Tom Fleming.

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