A Galway solicitor who was struck off the roll of solicitors for dishonesty 10 years ago has failed in his Supreme Court appeal to overturn a High Court decision refusing to restore him to the roll.
Mr Frank Burke (51) had applied to the High Court to be allowed to return as an assistant in the practice of his wife, Ms Lorna J. Burke.
The High Court rejected his application in December 1999. The judge said neither Mr Burke nor 26 western solicitors called to support him had thought him a proper person to exercise control over clients' money.
Yesterday, the Chief Justice, Mr Justice Keane, said Mr Burke was struck off in 1991 after he admitted misappropriating clients' funds - 30 allegations of misconduct were proved or admitted.
Mr Burke had narrowly escaped being struck off for similar conduct on a previous occasion.