By Business & Finance 
Dr Eamonn G Hall, chairman of the judging panel of The Irish Law Awards presenting a Lifetime Achievement Award to Maurice Gaffney, SC. Also in the picture in Miriam O’Callaghan, who hosted the awards.
Legal professionals from across Ireland were recognised at the third annual Irish Law Awards at the Four Seasons Hotel, Dublin last night.
Cork-based firm Ernest J Cantillon received the Special Merit Award (sponsored by Search4Less) for its work on the Louise O’Keeffe case. The award was presented in recognition of the landmark lawsuit against the Irish state, which saw Corkwoman Louise O’Keeffe take Ireland to the European Court of Human Rights for failing to protect her as a child.
A lifetime achievement award was presented to Maurice Gaffney, SC, who has practised law for almost 60 years. Known as ‘The Father of the Bar’, the 97 year old was recognised for his outstanding and continuous contribution to the legal sector in Ireland.
The Bar Council’s Human Rights’ Award was presented to the barristers who voluntarily represented the victims of the Magdalene Laundries. The award was given in recognition of their fight for justice for the women of the laundries who were mistreated to such an extent that their human rights were violated.
Law Firm of the Year was awarded to William Fry and Sole Practitioner/Principal Law Firm of the Year (sponsored by eXpd8) was presented to Marion Campbell Solicitors. Legal Website of the Year, (sponsored by the Wall Street Journal) was awarded to McCarthy & Co and Litigation Case of the Year (sponsored by The International Bar Association) was presented to ByrneWallace. The Pro Bono/Public Interest Lawyer/Team of the Year (sponsored by Documatics) was awarded to KOD Lyons.
The finalists were selected by an esteemed adjudication panel comprised of 20 leading national and international legal experts, headed by Dr Eamonn G Hall, Solicitor & Notary Public and Chairman of the judging panel of The Irish Law Awards. Dr Hall says: “Lawyers of all hues play an influential role in the lives of all who live on the island of Ireland. In the complex web of legal relationships, society needs lawyers.Of course lawyers do not exist for their own sake; lawyers must remember they serve their fellow man and woman. That is why we celebrate the service of the dedicated law firms and individual lawyers who have been acclaimed as having demonstrated in an exemplary manner exceptional achievements in the law during 2013.”
GALLERY
Robert Kennedy, Harry Fehily and Robert Bourke of Holmes O’Malley Sexton Solicitors receive the Munster Law Firm of the Year Award.
Flor McCarthy and John McCarthy of McCarthy Solicitors, winners of the Legal Website of the Year Award at the Irish Law Awards.
Jenny Fenton and Josepha Madigan of Madigan Solicitors receive the Family Lawyer or Law Team of the Year Award at the Irish Law Awards.
Justice Quirke presents the Bar Council’s Human Rights Award to Patricia Sheehy Skeffington at the third annual Irish Law Awards. The award was in recognition of the barristers who voluntarily represented the victims of the Magdalene Laundries.
Brian O’Neill, marketing director, Friends First presenting Myra Garrett, managing partner, William Fry with the Law Firm of the Year Award (sponsored by Friends First) at The Irish Law Awards, 2014.
