Injuries board cannot refuse to deal with solicitors

THE Supreme Court has ruled that the Personal Injuries Assessment Board cannot force a person to deal with it directly because everyone has a fundamental right to be represented by a solicitor.

Injuries board cannot refuse to deal with  solicitors

The board has no power under the Personal Injuries Assessment Board Act of 2003 to adopt such a policy and, if claimants choose to hire solicitors, the board must deal with those solicitors, Justice Susan Denham said.

The right to legal representation is “a fundamental right” and, if the Oireachtas intended PIAB to be “a lawyer-free zone”, it would have said so, she added.

Already a subscriber? Sign in

You have reached your article limit.

Unlimited access. Half the price.

Annual €130 €65

Best value

Monthly €12€6 / month

More in this section

Lunchtime News

Newsletter

Keep up with stories of the day with our lunchtime news wrap and important breaking news alerts.

Cookie Policy Privacy Policy Brand Safety FAQ Help Contact Us Terms and Conditions

© Examiner Echo Group Limited