Introduction
Welcome to the Irish Claims Board’s solicitor disciplinary records page. We believe that understanding solicitor conduct is crucial for anyone navigating the claims process. Remember, the Irish Claims Board offers a free assessment on claims—we should be your first port of call before engaging a solicitor. Our expert team is here to provide clear, unbiased advice, empowering you to make informed decisions without cost or commitment. This page highlights disciplinary records to help you stay aware of solicitor conduct and choose trustworthy professionals when needed.
Michele O'Keeffe Michele O’Keeffe & Company, 1 Cornmarket Street, Ennis, Co Clare 13/01/2014 In the matter of Michele O’Keeffe, a solicitor previously practising as Michele O’Keeffe & Company, 1 Cornmarket Street, Ennis, Co Clare, and in the matter of the Solicitors Acts 1954-2011 [8246/DT151/12 and 2013 no 109SA] Law Society of Ireland (applicant) Michele O’Keeffe (respondent solicitor) On 10 October 2013, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal found the respondent solicitor guilty of misconduct in her practice as a solicitor in that she: a) Allowed a deficit of €339,499 in her practice as of 30 January 2012, b) Allowed a situation where interest and penalties in the region of €40,000 could be levied on unstamped deeds, c) Wrote client account cheques for €80,345 for personal and office expenses between 9 December 2011 and 20 January 2012, d) Allowed debit balances of €39,072 on the client ledger balances, e) Misapplied funds of €55,442 on a probate file, f) Allowed outstanding lodgements of €9,915 on the client account, which covered debit balances on the client ledger, in circumstances where the cheques were written on the office account but were not paid, g) Diverted €15,000 of a loan cheque of €170,000 to cover deficits on two ledger accounts, h) Failed to account for a deposit received of €25,000 in a conveyancing transaction, i) Allowed stamp duty of €36,000 received in July 2003 to be directed to other uses, including paying a Law Society levy of €6,000 arising from an investigation in March 2011; j) Paid stamp duty of €6,590 and penalties from an unrelated client ledger on unstamped deeds discovered during a previous investigation, k) Paid €8,955 stamp duty and penalties from an unrelated client ledger on unstamped deeds discovered during a previous investigation in July 2009, l) Diverted €4,000 of a receipt of €75,486 in a probate file to a ledger account that had a debit balance, m) Allowed a further €33,500 of unrelated payments to be made on the same probate file, n) Left unstamped deeds with a liability in excess of €50,000 and estimated interest and penalties of €40,000. The tribunal directed the matters be referred forward to the President of the High Court and the President of the High Court, on 13 January 2014, ordered that: a) The name of the respondent solicitor be struck off the Roll of Solicitors, b) The respondent solicitor make restitution to the compensation fund in respect of all sums paid out by the fund in respect of her former practice, totalling €358,410.42, and c) The Society recover the costs of all the proceedings, to be taxed in default of agreement.Details for Michele O'Keeffe
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