Galway Bay fm newsroom - A former Galway-based solicitor has been declared not fit to be a member of the solicitors profession.
In the High Court, Justice Peter Kelly granted the application by the Law Society against Donal Downes, formerly practising as O' Dea & Company Solicitors, Eyre Square.
Donal Downes was struck off the roll of solicitors in 2014 over findings of professional misconduct.
This week the Law Society sought a declaration in the High Court that he is unfit to practice as it felt he was trying to 'circumvent' the controls placed on his practice arising from the previous disciplinary tribunal.
Legal counsel for Donal Downes argued that the declaration should not be granted for several reasons, including that no client lost money as a result of his misconduct.
In the High Court this week, Justice Peter Kelly said the findings of forgery and breaches of regulations against Donal Downes were serious and said clients have to be able to trust their solicitors to the ends of the earth.
According to today's Irish Times, the judge said the court had to follow the recommendation of the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal and declare Donal Downes 'not a fit and proper' person to be a member of the solicitors profession.
