A tale of two solicitors: a young woman and a Longford friend of 23 years

LONGFORD is a litigious county. That's the view of one solicitor in practice there. "We keep our judges very busy and a lot of our settlements would be court-steps settlements. Barristers would love the Longford solicitors."

The professional relationship between one famous Longford litigant and his solicitor goes back more than 23 years. Albert Reynolds has been a client of Patrick Groarke since 1972, shortly after Mr Groarke began working in his father's practice in Longford town.

Both men live in townlands on the outskirts of town. Their houses are about a quarter of a mile apart, as the crow flies.

According to one local source the professional relationship has developed into a friendship over the years. And the two men share a fondness for horse-racing. Mr Reynolds and his solicitor usually attend the big race meetings together.

But it was not Mr Groarke at Mr Reynolds's side in London. Throughout his lengthy case against the Sunday Times, his on site solicitor, as it were, was Pamela Cassidy.

Miss Cassidy, a close friend of Mr Reynolds's daughter, Miriam, is with Oswald, Hickson, Collier of London, specialists in libel. But she comes from a well-known Irish legal family.

Her brother Frank is head of district courts section of the chief state solicitor's office in Dublin, while her sister Constance has just published a book on licensing law. Their father, Judge John Cassidy, and mother died last year in a car crash.

In court in London, Ms Cassidy presented a rather forbidding persona, rarely smiling, avoiding all contact with the press, always impeccably, if sometimes very formally, dressed. That formality often extended to wearing a dark suit, white shirt and Trinity graduate's tie.

However, the warmth of her relationship with her client was clear, as she and his daughters formed a protective cordon around the former Taoiseach in court.

In Longford, the family of Mr Reynolds's friend and solicitor, Mr Groarke, is one of the county's legal dynasties. Patrick, and his brother Raymond, both completed law degrees at UCD. Patrick graduated in 1971, Raymond a year later.

Last July, Raymond Groarke was appointed a Circuit Court judge. He had been called to the Bar in 1973 and practised on the midland circuit. Lorna Groarke, another sibling, is a partner in the family firm.

Patrick Groarke turned 47 on November 1st. He is married to Yvonne and they have one son and three daughters, - ranging in age from six to 16. She is a scientist working in cancer research at Athlone Regional Technical College, and gained a PhD from Trinity College Dublin recently.

Mr Groarke is rarely seen in the district courts, spending most of his time in the High or Circuit Courts. The bread-and-butter cases of the rural practice are dealt with by the other partners.

Last month, Mr Groarke represented an Athlone farmer and a Roscommon farmer who pleaded guilty to charges of possessing animal hormones and administering illegal drugs to animals.

He is on the litigation committee of the Law Society and respected by colleagues and competitors. The Groarke family is not known for any particular party allegiance.

"He is one of the best, if not the best plaintiff lawyers," one friend said. "If I had to run a case I'd go to Paddy Groarke."

Some solicitors representing media organisations believe Mr Groarke has a standing order from Mr Reynolds to sue whenever he spots a potential libel. However, it is a claim a source close to the firm said was absurd.

One legal source said the two men had built up a very close affiliation over the years and, while Mr Reynolds may not be his only large client, "he'd have exhausted a lot of his time with Albert's libel work in recent years".