Solicitor struck off over misconduct

A woman says she gave €40,000 in upfront fees to a solicitor representing her in a sexual abuse claim only to find out later the barristers instructed for the action had agreed to be paid only if they won the case, the High Court was told.

Greg O’Neill, formerly practising at the Capel Building, Mary’s Abbey, Dublin, was yesterday struck off the roll of solicitors by the court on a number of admitted counts of misconduct, including for failing refund fees to the woman.

He also admitted misconduct in relation to failing to properly represent a widow at an inquest and only paying out €69,000 froman €85,000 settlement to another client.

Mr O’Neill apologised to the clients involved and said the problems in his practice arose due to chronic depressive illness under which he laboured for two years before it was diagnosed in 2009.

High Court president, Mr Justice Nicholas Kearns, rejected an application on Mr O’Neill’s behalf not to strike him off and grant him a limited practising certificate so that he could, once medically fit, return to work and address the outstanding financial matters involving former clients.

The woman who asked Mr O’Neill to act for her in a claim over sexual abuse was eventually paid €15,250 from the Law Society’s compensation fund.

In her evidence to a Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal she said she felt “devastated, disappointed, tormented because of Mr O’Neill’s actions.