Legal Firms Rake in Child Abuse Victim Earnings

Tue, 09 Jun 2009

New figures have revealed that ten solicitors firms earned a total of more than €55 million in legal fees for representing victims of abuse. The law firms were paid the money by the Residential Institutions Redress Board (RIRB), whilst 16 legal firms enjoyed earnings of €1 million or more. The RIRB have paid out a total of €138.5 million in legal fees to 817 solicitors firms.

Dublin based solicitors Michael E. Hanahoe and Co led the way in the earnings, taking €12.68 million in legal costs over a four year period which saw them process 754 claims for victims of child abuse in religious institutions. Lavelle Coleman was close behind, making €10.74 million despite processing more claims – 796. Lawyers from another Dublin based firm, Peter McDonnell and Associates, saw earnings of €6.27 million, whilst Cork-based Murphy English and Co was paid €5.67 million.

Some of the law firms have attracted criticism, however, with some victims claiming to have been ‘herded like sheep’. Spokesman for the Survivors of Child Abuse (SOCA), John Kelly, claimed solicitors were only concerned with ensuring they received commission, and did not care about the level of compensation received by the victims.
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