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.
Ciaran R Callan Callan & Company, Solicitors, River Bank House, Dodder Park Drive, Dublin 14 13/07/2009 In the matter of Ciaran R Callan, a solicitor formerly practising as Callan & Company, Solicitors, River Bank House, Dodder Park Drive, Dublin 14, and in the matter of the Details for Ciaran R Callan
Name
Address
Date of Order
Decision
Law Society of Ireland (applicant)
Ciaran R Callan (respondent solicitor)
On 12 March 2009, the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal found the respondent solicitor guilty of misconduct in his practice as a solicitor in that he:
a) Admitted an estimated deficit of €1,900,000 to exist on the client account as at 12 November 2007,
b) Failed to keep proper books of accounts in compliance with regulation 12(1) of the Solicitors’ Accounts Regulations 2001,
c) Failed to kept such proper books of account, in compliance with regulation 12(2) of the Solicitors’ Accounts Regulations 2001, that would show the true financial position in relation to each client and the monetary transactions of the client,
d) Failed to keep the minimum books of accounts, in breach of regulation 20 of the Solicitors’ Accounts Regulations 2001, including failing to keep cash books showing all monies received and paid on behalf of each client, failing to keep proper office and client ledgers, failing to keep a proper record of all monies as lodged, failing to keep a record of all monies transferred between ledger accounts, failing to keep copies of each draft obtained in connection with any client matters, failing to keep copies of each bill of costs furnished to clients,
e) Failed to keep the books of account written up to date in breach of the regulations,
f) Transferred monies between the ledger accounts of different clients, in breach of regulation 9 of the Solicitors’ Accounts Regulations 2001, so as to conceal the underlying deficit he created in the client accounts,
g) Caused a deficit to arise on client accounts by paying monies to clients where funds were not held for those clients, in breach of regulation 7(2)(b), and caused debit balances to arise,
h) Failed to prepare balancing statements on client accounts within two months of the balancing date, in breach of regulation 12(7),
i) Failed to prepare balancing statement on office account within two months of the end of the accounting year,
j) Transferred monies for outlays not yet disbursed to office account, in breach of regulation 7(1)(a)(ii),
k) Failed to maintain proper books of account and caused fundamental errors to arise on the books of accounts, thus discrediting the reliability of the accounting records as at 30 April 2006 and earlier dates due to errors found on ledger cards as detailed in appendix 1 to the interim investigation report dated 15 March 2007,
l) Overstatement of client balances in Leixlip office of €288,000 and overstatement of client balances in Ennis office of €11,000,
m) Failed to stamp and register deeds on certain client files, despite being put in funds to carry out stamping and registration of deeds. The respondent solicitor failed to stamp and register deeds on the following files: i) File C/16/04 for the sum of €8,400, (ii) File M/13/05 stamp duty due €43,410, (iii) File B/11/05 stamp duty due €31,125, (iv) File P/4/05 stamp duty due €223,200, (v) File Leixlip T/1/06 stamp duty due €39,600.
The tribunal directed:
a) That the respondent solicitor is not a fit and proper person to be a member of the solicitors’ profession,
b) That the name of the respondent solicitor be struck off the Roll of Solicitors,
c) That 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 13 July 2009, the President of the High Court ordered:
1) That the name of the respondent solicitor shall be struck from the Roll of Solicitors,
2) That 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.