The Law Society has paid £4 million to settle claims made against the estate of the late Jonathan Philip Toppin Brooks, a solicitor who took his own life in 1992, the High Court was told yesterday.
The affairs of Mr Brooks, of Annamoe, Co Wicklow, have been investigated by the society since his death.
An application to permit a Dublin solicitor, Mr Maurice Curran, to continue acting as administrator of the estate was yesterday adjourned for a week. In an affidavit Mr Curran said that, in conjunction with the society's compensation fund, he had investigated claims against Mr Brooks's estate. These arose in Mr Brooks's professional capacity as a solicitor.
The claims amounted to £11 million and most had now been settled by the Law Society. Claims to the value of more than £1 million were still being investigated. Mr Curran said he had collected £190,000 from Mr Brooks's pensions funds and insurance policies and would seek court directions at a later date on the disbursement of this money.
He said he had been trying to unravel ownership of a commercial building in Nassau Street, Dublin, and believed Mr Brooks was ultimately the beneficial owner of a 1,000-year leasehold interest in two shops.
An uncle of the deceased solicitor, the late Dr Arthur Brooks, was, subject to the lease, the freehold owner of the building, with an interest in possession of offices above the shops. Mr Curran said he had been advised that the current market value of the interest in the shops was £325,000. He was anxious that this asset be secured for the Brooks estate. Mr Curran said legal proceedings had been issued in relation to the ownership of the Nassau Street property and he had been named as one of the defendants in those proceedings.
Mr Raymond Walker, a solicitor and one of the executors named in Mr Brooks's will, said he and Mrs Sheelagh Brooks (the co-executor) had co-operated with Mr Curran in relation to the administration of the estate. Mr Walker said he believed all Mr Brooks's assets had now been collected. He held £170,000 representing the proceeds of sale of certain properties jointly owned by Mr and Mrs Brooks, and the proceeds of the sale of Mr Brooks's car.
In those circumstances, Mrs Brooks and he wanted to be discharged from any further responsibility in relation to the estate. He asked the court to authorise him to pay the monies to Mr Curran.
Mr Justice Shanley adjourned the matter for one week to allow an affidavit to be prepared.