A SOLICITOR has had her practising certificate suspended by the High Court after a Law Society investigation uncovered alleged conveyancing irregularities in her practice.
The president of the High Court, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns, made the order yesterday against Deirdre A Foley, whose partners in the firm Foley McNally Goldberg, Popes Quay, Cork, had previously taken proceedings to restrain her engaging in transactions on behalf of that partnership.
Ms Foley was also ordered yesterday not to approach or make contact with any clients or former clients of that practice.
Law Society investigating accountant Edward Sheehan said in an affidavit, the society’s investigation relating to Ms Foley was carried out as a result of publicity about a separate case in which two of Ms Foley’s partners obtained a temporary High Court injunction restraining her from engaging in transactions on behalf of the partnership.
Mr Sheehan’s investigation showed alleged irregularities in relation to the purchase of a house in Douglas and that stamp duty had not been paid on time in relation to a number of properties that Ms Foley had been involved in conveyancing.
The accountant alleged funds had also been improperly withdrawn from the client ledger on a short-term basis to pay stamp duty.
These funds included €98,115 allegedly improperly withdrawn for Ms Foley’s own benefit in order to pay stamp duty on six properties, Mr Sheehan said.
They also included another €29,115 allegedly improperly withdrawn for Ms Foley’s benefit and the benefit of partner Saundra McNally, again on a short-term basis, this time for stamp duty and interest payable on a property jointly owned by both solicitors at Mariner’s Quay, Cork.
Mr Justice Kearns said, having read the papers in the case, he was prepared to grant the orders sought by the Law Society suspending Ms Foley’s practising certificate.
He also ordered that her name be removed from the bank mandate of any client and office accounts of the practice of Foley McNally Goldberg and that she be prohibited from holding herself out as a solicitor entitled to practice.
Counsel for Ms Foley said it was proposed that the partnership between Ms Foley and the other two solicitors, Saundra McNally and Bernice Campbell, would be dissolved in three weeks time.