Solicitors ‘do not delay cases’

THE Law Society has rejected suggestions that solicitors are primarily to blame for delays in bringing personal injuries cases to conclusion in the courts.

While welcoming proposals by a court review committee for measures to speed up cases and keep a lid on costs, Law Society director general Ken Murphy warned the nature of many cases meant they could not be fast-tracked.

"What often delays personal injury actions, particularly serious ones where we are talking about the High Court, is the fact that the injuries have not settled sufficiently for a clear prognosis to be made," he said.

"Contrary to what people may believe, it is in the interests of solicitors as well as claimants to get cases settled or determined by the court as soon as it is ready and not to delay unnecessarily."

Mr Murphy was responding to the publication of a package of reforms by the Committee on Court Practice and Procedure which recommends imposing penalties on parties who delay cases, call excessive numbers of witnesses or waste the High Court's time with cases that should be lodged in the circuit court.

Justice Minister Michael McDowell yesterday met some of the reforms by announcing eight extra judges posts one of the largest group appointments ever.