Top lawyers earned over €650,000 from legal aid scheme last year
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Two Irish lawyers earned more than €650,000 through the criminal legal aid scheme in 2018, according to new Department of Justice figures.
Barrister Michael Bowman SC, who also topped the legal aid table in 2017 with €566,156, earned €656,198 in 2018.
Meanwhile, prolific criminal defence solicitor Michael J. Staines earned €654,513 over the same period.
The highest earning junior counsel in 2018 was Brian McInerney with €335,188.
Overall, the State paid €59.6 million to lawyers through the criminal legal aid scheme in 2018, with an average €108,893 payout for senior counsel, €27,319 for junior counsel, and €41,690 for solicitors.
Top ten earning senior counsel in 2018
| Name | 2018 payout |
|---|---|
| Michael Bowman | €656,197.96 |
| Brendan Grehan | €607,678.29 |
| Bernard Condon | €553,135.75 |
| Mark Nicholas | €405,880.42 |
| Michael O’Higgins | €342,695.45 |
| Colman Cody | €342,500.70 |
| Padraig Dwyer | €320,070.60 |
| Giollaíosa Ó Lideadha | €314,517.45 |
| Séamus Clark | €308,461.25 |
| Lorcan Staines | €302,720.22 |
Top ten earning junior counsel in 2018
| Name | 2018 payout |
|---|---|
| Brian McInerney | €335,188.23 |
| Keith Spencer | €319,404.36 |
| Tessa White | €250,123.50 |
| Kieran Kelly | €217,856.88 |
| Luigi Rea | €208,114.77 |
| Pieter Le Vert | €200,263.59 |
| Dean M. Kelly | €185,950.17 |
| Patrick Martin Whyms | €180,588.96 |
| Tony McGillicuddy | €171,440.41 |
| Sarah-Jane O’Callaghan | €170,982.03 |
Top ten earning solicitors in 2018
| Name | 2018 payout |
|---|---|
| Michael J. Staines | €654,512.51 |
| Tony Collier | €522,197.94 |
| Michael Hennessy | €497,330.34 |
| John M. Quinn | €493,297.49 |
| Cahir O’Higgins | €480,118.57 |
| Kenneth Cunningham | €434,533.99 |
| Ciarán Mulholland | €428,134.87 |
| Frank A. Buttimer | €419,799.07 |
| John O’Doherty | €414,028.69 |
| Tracy Horan | €390,217.80 |
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