Callan to transfer clients' files

A solicitor alleged to have concealed substantial deficits in client accounts has agreed to have his practice files taken over by another legal firm.

The client accounts of solicitor Ciaran Callan will also be transferred to a specially designated account, the High Court heard yesterday.

The president of the High Court, Mr Justice Richard Johnson, said these and other agreed measures would mean an "orderly and efficient" clearing of the situation relating to proceedings by the Law Society against Mr Callan.

On the basis of various undertakings and agreements yesterday by Mr Callan, including his continuing an undertaking not to practice, the judge adjourned the proceedings for three weeks.

Last week, the court was told that Mr Callan's accounts at one stage this year showed an alleged deficit of €1.9 million but that he had recently lodged monies which, his solicitor told the Law Society, had paid that amount off and left an apparent surplus.

However, the Law Society, because of concerns that the precise amount of the deficit remained unknown in light of it being conceded that the account books were not up to date, decided last week to seek account freezing and other orders.

Several orders were made by consent last week when proceedings by the society against Mr Callan, practising as Callan & Company Solicitors, Riverbank House, Dodder Park Drive, Dublin 14, were before Mr Justice Johnson.

A number of those orders were vacated yesterday in light of the agreement to transfer the files of Mr Callan's practice to John Bourke and Francis O'Doherty, practising as Bourke & Co on the Drimnagh Road in Walkinstown, who are taking over Mr Callan's practice.

Other orders remain in place, include Mr Callan's undertaking not to practice.

Mr Callan is also to notify his insurers of any claims that may arise.