Wednesday 28 October 2026Compiled from published reports. Every claim links to its source.

Ireland Crime

Every case followed from the first report to the sentence, or to where the reporting stopped.

Case No. 0781Misappropriation of client funds, fraud · Co. Cavan

Cavan solicitor Ronan O'Brien struck off by High Court for misappropriating €239,500 in client funds

Ronan O'Brien, a solicitor who practised at Ronan O'Brien & Co on Church Street, Cavan, misappropriated €239,500 in client funds, using the money partly to fund his acquisition of a property in Cavan town and for the purchase of another premises in the town. The misconduct, which also included unauthorised payments, deficits in client ledgers, and failure to maintain proper books of account, was found by a disciplinary tribunal to involve fraud and dishonesty. O'Brien was suspended from practice by the High Court in 2024, and the tribunal considered the allegations on various dates in 2025. In a judgment published in June 2026, High Court president Judge David Barniville struck O'Brien off the roll of solicitors and ordered him to pay about €14,000 in costs.

  1. Reportednot reported
  2. Arrestednot reported
  3. Chargednot reported
  4. In court18 Jun
  5. Verdict
  6. Sentenced
reportedhappened, not reportedlatest stagenot yet

Key facts

consolidated from all reports
What happened
  • Ronan O'Brien misappropriated €239,500 in client funds, using the money partly to fund his acquisition of a property in Cavan town and for the acquisition of another premises in the town on behalf of a separate client.
  • Other misconduct included unauthorised payments, deficits in client ledgers, and failure to maintain proper books of account.
  • The disciplinary tribunal found the misconduct involved fraud and dishonesty and brought the profession of solicitors into disrepute.
Where
O'Brien practised at Ronan O'Brien & Co Solicitors, Church Street, Cavan.
When
O'Brien was suspended from practice by the High Court in 2024, and the tribunal considered the allegations on various dates in 2025.
Investigation
The Law Society's strike-off application arose from a complaint by two of O'Brien's clients.
In court
  • A disciplinary tribunal made findings of misconduct against O'Brien, and the judge adopted the sanctions recommended by the tribunal and sought by the Law Society.
  • In a judgment published in June 2026, High Court president Judge David Barniville struck O'Brien off the roll of solicitors.
Sentence
O'Brien was ordered to pay the costs of the disciplinary tribunal and the costs of the Law Society in bringing the strike-off application, amounting to about €14,000.
8 statements extracted from the articles
  • whatThe misappropriated funds were used to partly fund his acquisition of a property in Cavan town (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe funds were also used for the acquisition of another premises in the town on behalf of a separate client (irishtimes.com)
  • whatThe misconduct involved fraud and dishonesty and brought the profession of solicitors into disrepute (irishtimes.com)
  • whatOther misconduct included unauthorised payments, deficits in client ledgers, and failure to maintain proper books of account (irishtimes.com)
  • whatO'Brien benefited financially from his actions at the expense of his clients (irishtimes.com)
  • courtRonan O'Brien was struck off the roll of solicitors by the High Court (irishtimes.com)
  • courtO'Brien was previously suspended from practice by the court in 2024 (irishtimes.com)
  • courtThe judge adopted the sanctions recommended by the tribunal and sought by the Law Society (irishtimes.com)

The reporting

newest first
  1. 18 Jun2026
    In courtirishtimes.com, first report
    Cavan solicitor struck off by High Court after misappropriating client funds

    Reports the High Court judgment striking off Ronan O'Brien, details of the tribunal findings including €239,500 misappropriated, the nature of the misconduct, and the costs ordered.

    convicted, male, irish (judged from name)victimvictim