Solicitor struck off as court hears of €1.53m deficit in client funds

Court told disciplinary tribunal had found solicitor guilty of professional misconduct on 14 different allegations

Judge ordered Patrick Delaney to pay a total of €11,000 fines to the Law Society Compensation Fund as well as €1.5m as restitution to the society. He was further ordered to pay over €12,000 towards the society’s costs.

A solicitor who, it was claimed, used client monies to fund his gaming addiction has been struck off the rolls of solicitors by the President of the High Court.

Patrick Delaney, who at one time practised out of Castleknock, Dublin, was found by the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal last March to be guilty of professional misconduct for causing an actual deficit in client funds of over €1.53m.