Stephen Joseph HOOLIHAN

Findings — machine-extracted (anthropic-batch:claude-opus-4-8); verify against the decision

Solicitor Stephen Joseph Hoolihan faced 24 charges (three discontinued) including neglect, dishonesty toward clients, misleading the Law Society, dishonestly buying a client's land below value, borrowing from a client, trust account failures, and repeated failures to comply with statutory notices. The Tribunal found 21 instances of professional misconduct and three of unsatisfactory professional conduct, with multiple express findings of dishonesty. Given his prior disciplinary history and the serious, repeated conduct, he was struck off the local roll and ordered to pay costs.

Duties found breached:

• No improper communication with the court
• Not mislead third parties or opponents
• Uphold public trust in the profession
• No conflict between current clients
• No improper use of client money
• Prompt accounting and return of money
• Competence
• Truthful, non-misleading advertising

Aggravating factors:

• Previous disciplinary history for similar conduct (1997 and 2001 findings)
• Serious, repeated and persistent failures over many years
• Multiple instances of active deceit/dishonesty
• Failure to respond to the discipline application itself
• Ignored letters and notices on at least nine occasions relating to six separate investigations
• Contempt of court orders for delivery of files

Mitigating factors:

• Had advised the Law Society of his bankruptcy