New president of Mayo solicitors body
Cathy McDarby is the new president of the Mayo Solicitors Bar Association. Picture: Conor McKeown
Ballinrobe solicitor Cathy McDarby has taken over as president of the Mayo Solicitors Bar Association and says she shares her predecessor's position on the current legal aid dispute.
Ms McDarby succeeds Castlebar-based Gary Mulchrone, whose two-year term has just ended. She said solicitors do not want to have to withdraw their services but must stand up for the vulnerable in society.
“The press have heard me talk all over the country on this,” she remarked at a sitting of Castlebar District Court last week. “We must protect the most vulnerable at all costs.”
Ms McDarby said that "we respect the rule of law in this society", and confirmed that she will not be attending court until there is a resolution to the three-and-a-half-month-long dispute.
“We don’t want to be doing this,” she added.
Ms McDarby said the Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan has indicated he will meet solicitors this week.
“I hope he does, and soon. The second it’s resolved, we will return to do our jobs.”
She thanked Mr Mulchrone for his stellar service over the past two years.
Judge Vincent Deane said Mr Mulchrone’s speeches would be missed.
“By the sounds of it, we will have someone who will be making enough of them,” he said.
- Published as part of the Courts Reporting Scheme.
