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.
Michael Gleasure Michael Gleasure & Co, Solicitors, 7 Maine Street, Tralee, Co Kerry 14/12/2009 In the matter of Michael Gleasure, a solicitor formerly practising as Michael Gleasure & Co, Solicitors, 7 Maine Street, Tralee, Co Kerry, and in the matter of the Details for Michael Gleasure
Name
Address
Date of Order
Decision
Law Society of Ireland (applicant)
Michael Gleasure (respondent solicitor)
On 8 October 2009, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal found the respondent solicitor guilty of misconduct in his practice as a solicitor in that he:
a) Misappropriated client funds by improperly transferring monies from the client account to the office account and, in particular, improperly transferred monies from the client account to the office account in circumstances where he had failed to furnish fee notes and where there was no evidence of work done to justify the transfer of funds in respect of fees,
b) Misappropriated monies totalling in or about €18,150 from the client ledger account of a named client by improperly transferring monies in or about that amount to the office account,
c) Misappropriated monies totalling in or about €42,670 from the client account of named clients by improperly transferring monies in or about that amount to the office account,
d) Misappropriated monies totalling in or about €50,820 from the client deposit account of a named client by improperly withdrawing monies in or about that amount from the client deposit account,
e) Improperly withdrew monies totalling in or about €11,154 (or a part thereof) from the client account of a named client,
f) Failed to apply monies received to the credit of named clients for the purpose for which they were received, namely, failed to discharge the balance due to redeem capital on an outstanding loan and misapplied the said monies, or a part thereof, by improperly transferring the sum of in or about €7,865 from the client account to the office account,
g) Misappropriated the sum of in or about €8,470 from the client account of named clients by improperly transferring monies in or about that amount to the office account,
h) Misappropriated monies from the client account of named clients by converting monies received for payment of stamp duty and land registry fees to his own use by transferring monies totalling in or about €3,628.79 from the client account to the office account,
i) Misappropriated funds of in or about €3,630 from the client ledger account of named clients by way of an allocation of a payment previously made out of the client account in the amount of €1,210 to the client ledger account of the above named clients, together with a further transfer from their client ledger account to the office account of €2,420,
j) Misappropriated monies from the client account of a named client by improperly transferring monies to the office account such that the sum of in or about €95,462 remained on the client ledger as at 29 August 2006, in circumstances where a balance of in or about €100,519 was due to the client,
k) Misappropriated monies totalling in or about €3,025 from the client account of a named client by improperly transferring monies in or about that amount to the office account,
l) By his acts, caused a deficit in funds payable to and/or on behalf of clients of his former practice, by the compensation fund of the Society, as at 28 August 2008, of in or about €116,112.66,
m) Improperly transferred monies from deposits received in conveyancing matters from the client account to the office account,
n) Breached regulation 7 of the Solicitors’ Accounts Regulations 2001 (SI no 421 of 2001) by withdrawing monies from the client account that were not properly available to be so withdrawn in accordance with the provisions of that regulation,
o) Breached regulation 11 of the Solicitors’ Accounts Regulations 2001 by failing to furnish bills of costs in accordance with the provisions of that regulation.
The tribunal directed that:
i) The respondent solicitor is not a fit person to be a member of the solicitors’ profession,
ii) The name of the respondent solicitor be struck off the Roll of Solicitors,
iii) The respondent solicitor pay the whole of the costs of the Law Society of Ireland, to be taxed by a taxing master of the High Court, in default of agreement.
The tribunal directed that the matter be referred forward to the High Court and, on 14 December 2009, the President of the High Court ordered that:
1) The respondent solicitor is not a fit person to be a member of the solicitors’ profession,
2) The name of the respondent solicitor shall be struck from the Roll of Solicitors,
3) The Law Society do recover the costs of the proceedings herein and the costs of the proceedings before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal as against the respondent when taxed or ascertained.