Mr Elio Malocco, who served a jail sentence for defrauding the Irish Press group of newspapers, yesterday lost his High Court challenge to a recommendation of the Law Society's disciplinary committee that he be struck off the roll of solicitors.
Mr Malocco, Leopardstown Avenue, Carrickmines, Dublin, was the subject of a Law Society investigation into his practice in 1991 after a complaint against him by a client. This led to the High Court making orders freezing the accounts of the firm of Malocco and Killeen and suspending the practising certificates of the partners, including Mr Malocco.
A report of the disciplinary tribunal of February 28th, 2000 found Mr Malocco guilty of conduct tending to bring the solicitors' profession into disrepute and recommended he be struck off the roll of solicitors and pay £50,000 (€63,487) to the compensation fund of the Law Society.
In a reserved judgment yesterday, Ms Justice Carroll rejected Mr Malocco's applications for orders and declarations quashing the report's findings and recommendations. The judge found the conduct of the inquiry was not oppressive to Mr Malocco.
She also rejected claims that he was not given relevant documents in the Law Society's possession and that he should have been given adequate finances to instruct lawyers.
She dismissed another claim that he failed to get a fair hearing.