Laois solicitor asked about €1 million account deficit
High Court case adjourned as health issue emerges
A health issue and outstanding information resulted in the Law Society’s disciplinary action against Portlaoise Solicitor Philip Meagher being adjourned for a month.
The case was called before Mr Justice David Barniville at the High Court on Monday where Neasa Bird SC said both parties were seeking to adjourn the matter for four weeks.
Mr Meagher of Midland Legal Solicitors was suspended from practising as a solicitor following an application by the Law Society of Ireland on October 1.
Ms Bird said an order had been made requiring Mr Meagher to respond to a report compiled by the Law Society in relation to the allegation. She explained that their investigation related to the funding of the Forest Fest music festival as the report identified a deficit of over €1 million in Mr Meagher’s client account funds in August which had later been rectified.
Ms Bird said Mr Meagher had informed them that the money from ticket sales had been used to rectify the client funds and had been paid through a third party business. However, she said the Law Society was in contact with this business which “is not involved in the sale of tickets” and she said their evidence “has obviously directly contradicted evidence that was given to the Law Society by Mr Meagher.”
She said the Law Society has confirmed that there was no suggestion of any wrongdoing or financial issues in relation to the third party business. Ms Bird said Mr Meagher would have to respond to the Law Society in relation to the issue.
Colm Hennessy BL said he had just come on record to represent Mr Meagher.
“There was going to be an application for an adjournment on medical grounds,” he said.
Mr Justice Barniville noted there were medical issues and certain questions remained about “the means by which ticket sales were repaid into the respondent’s clients account”.
He noted the third party company “has contacted the Law Society to state that it had no involvement good, bad or indifferent”.
Mr Justice Barniville noted “that allegedly contradicts what the respondent has said”. He noted Mr Hennessy had only just come on record in the case. He noted the third party business had been referred to publicly and confirmed that there was no question of wrongdoing on the company’s part.
He adjourned the Law Society’s application and adjourned the case back to December 7 and reserved the issue of costs.