Portlaoise solicitor Philip Meagher suspended by High Court after Law Society action

The High Court has suspended Midland Legal Solicitors in Portlaoise and ordered Philip Meagher to disclose all bank accounts and assets. Meagher is also the founder of Forest Fest music festival.

High Court suspends Portlaoise solicitor amid Law Society investigation

Philip Meagher, the Co Laois solicitor and founder of the Forest Fest music and arts festival, has been suspended from legal practice by the High Court and ordered to disclose all information about his bank accounts and assets, independent.ie reports.

The suspension of Meagher, principal of Midland Legal Solicitors in Portlaoise, follows a Law Society case that has resulted in a series of significant measures against him. Judge Oisín Quinn issued the interim suspension order, which prohibits Meagher from disposing of any of his assets, or directing the disposal of any assets, without prior High Court approval.

Meagher has been directed to set out proposals within a fortnight for the orderly wind-down of his practice. He must hand over all client ledgers, computers, hard drives and passwords, and lodge any client money he holds to the appropriate client accounts.

Under an order issued on 1 October, Meagher is required to swear an affidavit within 14 days disclosing all information on any bank accounts held in his own name, in the name of his firm, any joint accounts, or accounts held by third parties in which he has a beneficial interest. He must also swear a separate affidavit disclosing all his assets, including those no longer in his control, and provide expert written valuations for the latter.

Banks holding client or office accounts for Meagher's firm have been directed to pay the contents of those accounts to the Law Society for reimbursement to clients as part of the wind-down process. Those same banks must also hand over six years of bank statements to the Law Society.

Meagher is additionally required to set out proposals for the transfer of client files to another solicitor or solicitors, as well as the distribution of title deeds, documents and wills to clients or newly appointed legal representatives.

The Law Society, the body that regulates solicitors in Ireland, has been considering an interim investigation report prepared by an accountant who carried out an inspection of Meagher's practice.

In response to questions about the suspension, Meagher said his office was now engaged with the Law Society in a structured process. "Further to the recent order my office is now positively engaged in a process with the Law Society," he said in a text statement. "This process will incorporate a number of actions to include various positive proposals to move on from this point, details of which are being actively worked on."

He added that the primary issue which gave rise to the order had been addressed before the order was made. "As this is an active process no further comment would be appropriate at this point," he said.

Beyond his legal work, Meagher established Forest Fest, an annual music and arts festival held in Emo, Co Laois. Echo & the Bunnymen and Madness performed at the event in July. When asked whether the festival would continue, Meagher said plans for Forest Fest 2027 were progressing. "Plans for Forest Fest 27 are ploughing ahead and the team are hoping to build on the amazing weekend that people so enjoyed last July," he said.

Source: Google News IE — Crime (en)