THE Clare-based senior counsel, Brendan Nix, earned almost a quarter of a million euro through the criminal legal aid scheme last year, figures released by the Department of Justice reveal.
The figures released to The Clare People in response to a Freedom of Information request show that Mr Nix received €241,724 – the eighth highest amount paid out nationally last year.
Nationally, barristers and solicitors shared a €36.97 million bonanza through the criminal legal aid scheme – an increase of 38.5% on the €26.7 million claimed in 2004.
Solicitors’ firms received €21.472 million, while the barristers received €15.498 million.
Another barrister to feature in the top 10, who conducts a sizeable proportion of his work at Ennis Circuit Court is Brian McInerney BL. He received €229,371, the ninth highest amount nationally.
Other barristers operating in the Clare-Limerick area to feature highly on the list include Mark Nicholas BL who received €126,573 and Michael Fitzgibbon BL who received €23,718.
Mr Nix carries out much of his work at the Central Criminal Court. With Mr McInerney, he acted in a recent murder case at the Central Criminal Court in Ennis.
The barrister who successfully defended Garda Pat Keating at Ennis Circuit Court, Thomas Creed SC, received €58,308 through the criminal legal aid scheme last year.
Ennis-based solicitor, Tara Godfrey received the highest amount amongst Clare solicitors at €60,636 in 2005.
Shannon-based Catriona Carmody received €38,710, the Kilrush-based Eugene O’Kelly received €37,160 and William Loughnane received €15,434. Ennistymon-based Judith Foley received €10,907 and Joseph G Chambers received €10,145.
The figures also show that Limerick-based solicitors who carry out work in the Clare courts received high amounts. Ted McCarthy received the 10th highest amount in the country at €525,437 – up €75,000 on his 2004 total, while John Devanne received €196,629 – almost double his 2004 criminal legal aid income of €104,148. The figures also show that the Limerick practice of recently-appointed district court justice, Aeneas McCarthy, received €257,867 in 2005.
They do not take into account the various costs that the barristers and solicitors have. They don’t include the amounts paid to barristers and solicitors from the Legal Aid Board, which mainly concerns legal aid for civil cases.