The Legal Gravy Train

[stanley]

The legal gravy train - Editorial, Opinion - Independent.ie


Good article, but little doubt the corruption caused by FF has led to the State being landed with these huge bills, successive Ministers have failed to curb these Costs and have had ample opportunity, one might think they are seeking some favour.

Bertie and Co are expecting their costs at Mahon, he will probably not get them but he should then be pursued and if necessary made bankrupt and all his payments /pensions taken from him just leave him with his OAP.

If a proper accountant was appointed by a Court to look after his bankrupt affairs it could get very interesting.

[Delusional or careerist?]

It is extraordinary how people can get worked up about Tribunal Lawyers's fees - as if it was the lawyers sho set it up, set the rate or delayed them. Anyway a poxy half a billion, is small change when compared to NAMA's overpayment to banks. Minimum costs of €3.75bn for long term economic value (and that's if you believe that impaired assets will pay up and that the assets will rise by 10%).

[corelli]

They specifically call attention to Pat Marrinan and Michael Durack who each received in excess of 2.5 million euro. Now, given that the Morris tribunal lasted 5 years, even if they were there for half of that time, two and a half years, then the monies they received would be approximate to what they might have expected to earn in private practice during that time. If they, in fact, served the entire 5 years, which is probable, then though it is a large amount of money, it is probably far less than they would have earned at the bar and additionally they have to go back and pick up their practice, which is not the easiest thing to do.

One of the reasons for large fees for Barristers and Solicitors ( and I am not defending huge fees, merely reasonable ones) is that there is no guarantee of future work. They make hay whilst the sun shines. Additionally, and I don't know how frequently it has to be said, is that about 80% of the fees at the bar, in particular, are earned by 20% of the members. Junior members go for considerable years without making even the average industrial wage, and that can last absolutely years before any improvement. There is a very large attrition rate.

The advantage, of course, of Tribunal work is that it is guaranteed permanent work for a given period and thus a reduced fee is warranted.

The fees at the tribunals were agreed by the Government of the day and were done so as to attract good members of the profession who would otherwise not be bothered appearing as there is far more lucrative work elsewhere.

Sometimes I get the impression that people consider the legal profession a vocation and that lawyers, unlike other people in self employment, should have no interest in earning good money for themselves. Now, in reality, there is a large element of vocation with a large percentage of the profession and they regularly do work for little or nothing, which, of course, you never hear of as it is not "news worthy".

[stanley]

Top lawyers coin it after tribunals hit €290m mark - National News, Frontpage - Independent.ie


Why do the newspapers keep on and on about the legal bill, it was approved by the Govt which set up the Tribunals.
If our politicians, councillors and cops were not corrupt this problem of legal fees and costs would not exist. in the main it is the FF'ers who caused the problems.
Any politician found guilty of any form of corruption should be stripped bare of all entitlements such as pensions etc, it is a joke that Ray Burke is not alone in receipt of 2 pensions but regularly has it enhanced with increases, put him on the OAP basic and humiliate the fupper.
Bertie's comeuppance is on the way, he also should be stripped of pensions to pay his costs and again put on an OAP and not allowed to run for Public Office ever again, maybe then he will get over his illusions he brought peace to the North.
As for Lowry he should be in a cell on bread n water rather than trying to fool them all over Tipp that he will bring the next Las Vegas to a two-bit gombeen-land hick town called Borris in bleedin Ossory, how can they allow a corrupt crook to lead them by the nose, day after day, year after year.

[orbit]

What I don't get is why they are paying for the best lawyers. Could the job not have been done perfectly well by average ones?

[Baron von Biffo]

Remember that Denis O'Brien now has a substantial interest in INM. Dinny, for reasons best known to himself, doesn't like tribunals so we shouldn't get too excited when his underlings pen critical articles like this.

[SAHM]

Remember that Denis O'Brien now has a substantial interest in INM. Dinny, for reasons best known to himself, doesn't like tribunals so we shouldn't get too excited when his underlings pen critical articles like this.

Are you suggesting that he is interfering with the national media of this country to turn this country against tribunals and other such meddling I'm aghast

[drummed]

youtu.tube.com/watch?v=vGIRmJkPcvU