Child Abuse
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TEN solicitors have made more than €1 million each representing the victims of sexual and physical abuse at state institutions.
The legal firms have raked in colossal fees for their work with the Residential Institutions Redress Board, in some cases being paid more per case than the victims.
The top earning solicitor's firm has taken in an astonishing €9.1 million in the last three years for which records are available, the Sunday Tribune has learned.
Michael Hanahoe & Company earned more than €4 million in both 2005 and 2006 representing dozens of clients before the Redress Board.
The notoriously secretive Redress Board said they would not provide the most recent figures for 2007 saying they "did not engage with the media."
A spokeswoman for the organisation said they were not subject to the Freedom of Information Act and that details of payments to lawyers would only be published in their forthcoming annual report.
Documents examined by the Sunday Tribune show that 10 firms have made more than €1 million each out of a total pot of €97 million, which has been paid out since the Redress Board was set up six years ago.
The next highest earners after Hanahoe were the Dublin-based firm of Lavelle Coleman, which has earned a total of €8.9 million from representing victims of abuse.
In third place was the firm of Margaret Campbell, which raked in a total of €3.457 million during those three years.
Some familiar names have also made the list with Gallagher Shatter, the law firm of Fine Gael's Alan Shatter, earning close to €460,000.
Controversial Limerick solicitor John Devane has earned a total of €580,930 from the Redress Board but neither he nor Shatter made the Top Ten list.
Solicitors have earned on average €12,255 for each case that they've taken on behalf of the victims, according to the latest figures.
John Kelly of Irish Survivors of Child Abuse said: "Even the victims of very serious abuse are now getting derisory amounts for what they suffered. This was never about making solicitors money but unfortunately that is what has happened. "Many solicitors are operating on a no-win, no-fee basis but there is nothing for free as the government and the taxpayer are picking up the bill.
"Some of the victims are getting €4,000 or €5,000 for their cases, which would mean that the victims are getting less than the solicitors in certain instances."
Michael Hanahoe: €9,167,855
Lavelle Coleman: €8,917,899
Margaret Campbell: €3,457,319
Murphy, English & Co: €3,035,704
Peter McDonnell & Associates: €2,629,952
Madden & Associates: €2,528,383
Hodge, Jones & Allen: €2,297,542
Pearse Mehigan & Co: €2,124,481
Paul W Tracey: €1,368,243
Matthew Gold & Co: €1,120,175
Paddy says: The last Annual Report of the Residential Institutions Redress Board shows that the average payment made to people appearing before it was in the mid €70,000 (Euro's). Just thought I should mention it!