Aine Feeney McTigue

Allegation / charges

In the matter of Aine Feeney McTigue, a solicitor previously practising as Feeney Solicitors, First Floor, Lismoyle House, Merchants Road, Galway and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2011 [10123/DT23/13 and High Court record 2015 no 173 SA] Law Society of Ireland (applicant) Aine Feeney McTigue (respondent solicitor) On 8 October 2015, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal found the respondent solicitor guilty of misconduct in that she: 1) Allowed debit balances totalling €3,092 to occur on nine client ledger accounts at her accounting date of 31 September 2011, 2) Allowed a minimum deficit of €48,678.18 on the client account as of 30 September 2011, subsequently adjusted to €33,297.78, in breach of the Solicitors Accounts Regulations , 3) Permitted unauthorised transfers between unrelated accounts to temporarily clear debit balances, 4) Took costs from deposits received in a number of conveyancing transactions, 5) Failed to pay stamp duty that had been discharged and paid by the client and instead used same to pay costs, 6) Failed to ensure that a client bank account was correctly designated, 7) Failed to ensure that adequate narrative was written on cheques paid to banks or financial institutions. The tribunal referred the matter forward to the High Court and, on 7 December 2015, the High Court ordered that: 1) The name of the respondent solicitor be struck from the Roll of Solicitors, 2) The Society recover the costs of the proceedings in the High Court and the tribunal, to be taxed by in default of agreement.

Duties engaged

• No improper use of client money
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Account for interest on client money

Documents

No documents recorded.