The Law Society has referred 22 complaints involving 12 solicitors' firms to the Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal for inquiry over alleged double charging in redress board cases.
In a statement yesterday, it pointed out that the figure represents "less than 0.6 per cent of all redress board cases where applicants were represented by solicitors and where awards were made".
On October 14th, the Law Society set up a helpline for people who believed they had been double-charged by solicitors in connection with appearances before the Residential Institutions Redress Board. Legal fees for people appearing before the board are covered by it but it was alleged some solicitors had also charged clients.
As of 9am yesterday, the Law Society had received 162 complaints, of which 109 have been addressed by its complaints committee while a further 46 are being dealt with. The remaining 4 per cent (seven) will be dealt with by the end of this month.
Of the 87 cases not being referred to the Solicitors' Disciplinary Tribunal, it was found in 36 cases that no deduction/additional charge had been made.
In 29 cases it was found such a charge/deduction was justified, while in 22 cases, the complaints referred to other matters.
Seven of these latter cases did not refer to the redress board at all; in four cases it was found there was no complaint and in six cases, a written reprimand was sent to relevant solicitors but the allegations were not found to be sufficiently serious to be referred to the disciplinary tribunal.
Five complaints fell into other categories. As of October last, 434 solicitors' firms had represented 3,673 applicants before the redress board, where awards were made.
The disciplinary tribunal is independent of the Law Society. Where it makes findings of misconduct these are published in detail.
The investigation committee of the Commission to Inquire into Child Abuse begins its first hearing of 2006 today in Dublin at 10am. Background information will be given on St Joseph's industrial schools at Dundalk, Co Louth, Clifden, Co Galway, and Tralee, Co Kerry.
Evidence will be given by the Sisters of Mercy on the Dundalk and Clifden schools and by the Christian Brothers on the Tralee school.