Barrister accused of murdering dog breeder released on €100k bail (via Independent.ie)

A senior barrister accused of murdering a man in a shooting on farmland in Dublin has taken up €100,000 bail and was released from custody on Tuesday, a court has heard.

Law professor Diarmuid Phelan (53) is accused of the murder of father-of-four, Keith Conlon, at Hazelgrove Farm, Kiltalown Lane, Tallaght, on February 22.

The deceased, a dog breeder from Kiltalown Park in Tallaght, was seriously injured in an incident in the Hazelgrove area at the foot of the Dublin mountains.

After the shooting of his dog, Mr Conlon was shot in the back of the head.

Gardaí and emergency services arrived just after 1 pm, and Mr Conlon was rushed to Tallaght University Hospital. He remained on life support until he died two days later.

The High Court refused Mr Phelan bail in March, but the Court of Appeal overturned that decision on Friday. He had to enter into a bond of €50,000, a €50,000 independent surety was required, and he was ordered to obey several conditions.

Today his case was listed before Judge Victor Blake at Cloverhill District Court, but the Trinity College lecturer did not have to attend.

Judge Blake noted from Detective Garda Michael McGrath that Mr Phelan was released from custody after taking up bail on Tuesday.

Detective Garda McGrath applied for a 12-week adjournment to obtain formal directions from the Director of Public Prosecutions. He said all garda statements had been taken, and a ballistic report would be ready soon.

He said the investigation file was near finalisation and would go to the DPP soon.

To read the full story please visit:
https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/courts/barrister-accused-of-murdering-dog-breeder-released-on-100k-bail-41550615.html

‘Colossal’ drop in personal injury awards which fall by 42% after new guidelines (via Irish Times)

PIAB guidelines have ‘immediate and colossal’ impact on insurance payout

By Mary Carolan, 12th April 2022

The Personal Injuries Assessment Board’s average award last year dropped by 42 per cent in the wake of new guidelines slashing awards for minor personal injuries entering into force and fuelling calls for cheaper insurance.

Almost half – 49 per cent – of awards were under €10,000, compared to just 12 per cent of awards in 2020. The overall average general damages award across the motor, employer and public liability claims was €11,583, a drop of 47 per cent on the €21,850 average in 2020.

The PIAB report concerns 4,731 claims assessed by it between April 24th, 2021 – when the guidelines came into effect after being approved by a majority of the Judicial Council – and December 31st, 2021.

The number of claims has fallen 31 per cent since 2019, when PIAB received 31,078 applications, to 21,410 last year but much of that decline is attributed to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Irish motor insurers last year enjoyed their highest level of profitability since at least 2009 – as the level of road accidents and claims declined during Covid-19 restrictions, according to a Central Bank of Ireland report – reaping profits equaling 12 per cent of total income.

To read the full story please visit:
https://www.irishtimes.com/news/consumer/colossal-drop-in-personal-injury-awards-which-fall-by-42-after-new-guidelines-1.4850301?localLinksEnabled=false

Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal to begin processing complaints (via Irish legal News)

The new Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal (LPDT) is set to begin processing complaints of misconduct against solicitors and barristers later this month.

Established under the Legal Services Regulation Act 2015, the commencement of the new tribunal’s functions was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. It was formally brought into effect in November 2020 with the appointment of its 33 members, most of whom are lay members.

The LPDT has the same rights and powers as the High Court regarding the enforcement of the attendance of witnesses, as well as the production and the discovery of documents. It can subpoena witnesses to attend and give evidence, including under cross-examination.

Tribunal findings and sanctions imposed by the tribunal can be appealed to the High Court. Complaint decisions taken by the tribunal will be published by the Legal Services Regulatory Authority (LSRA).

An official launch event at the National Gallery in Dublin this morning heard from the tribunal’s chairperson Tom Coughlan, High Court president Mrs Justice Mary Irvine and James Browne, minister of state at the Department of Justice.

Speaking at the event, Mr Coughlan said: “The Legal Practitioners Disciplinary Tribunal will play an essential role in ensuring accountability and transparency in the legal profession, and in upholding high professional standards.

“As the successor body to the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and the Barristers Professional Conduct Tribunal, the LPDT will deal with allegations of professional misconduct raised against both solicitors and barristers and is entirely independent of the regulatory authority and the legal professional bodies in the exercise of its functions.

To read the full story please visit:

https://www.irishlegal.com/articles/legal-practitioners-disciplinary-tribunal-to-begin-processing-complaints