Disciplinary Record - Paul Michael Ireland

Decision - Control of practice

Outcome: Condition

Outcome date: 4 July 2024

Published date: 2 August 2024

Firm details

Firm or organisation at date of publication and at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Paul Ireland Solicitors

Address(es): 246 Manchester Road WARRINGTON WA1 3BE England

Firm ID: 599443

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Decision details

Mr Ireland's practising certificate for 2023/2024 is subject to the following conditions: 

1. Mr Ireland may not act as a compliance officer for legal practice (COLP) or compliance officer for finance and administration (COFA) for any authorised body.

Reasons/basis

Reasons/basis The above interim conditions are made under rule 3.2 of the SRA Regulatory and Disciplinary Procedure Rules, which states that at any stage an authorised decision maker may, pending a final decision by the SRA or the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal, impose interim conditions on the practising certificate of a solicitor. We are satisfied that these conditions are necessary in the public interest or for the protection of the public

Decision - Prosecution

Outcome: Referral to Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal

Outcome date: 25 February 2024

Published date: 19 June 2024

Firm details

Firm or organisation at date of publication and at time of matters giving rise to outcome

Name: Paul Ireland Solicitors

Address(es): 246 Manchester Road, Warrington WA1 3BE

Firm ID: 599443

Outcome details

This outcome was reached by SRA decision.

Reasons/basis

Outcome of SDT Hearing

This notification relates to a Decision to prosecute before the Solicitors Disciplinary Tribunal. This is an independent Tribunal which reaches its own decision after considering all the evidence, including any evidence put forward by the Respondent. The Tribunal had certified that there was a case to answer.

On 2 December 2024 the SDT considered and approved an Agreed Outcome. 

The Tribunal ordered that Mr Ireland be suspended from practice for a period of 1 year from 2 December 2024, such suspension to be suspended for a period of 2 years. 

In addition, Mr Ireland is subject to the following conditions on his practice for an indefinite period: 

1. he may not be a COLP or a COFA in an authorised body,
2. he may not hold client money subject to the provisions of the undertaking below,
3. he will file accountants reports with the SRA as they fall due and will file a cease to hold accountants report when he closes the Firm’s client account.

If he is found to have breached any of the conditions above, activation of the suspension of 1 year will follow in addition to any sanction imposed for the breach of conditions. 

If the period of 2 years under restriction is successfully completed, the suspended suspension from practice of 1 year will cease to have effect. 

Mr Ireland undertakes to close the Firm’s client account within 2 months of the date of approval of the Agreed Outcome and to provide evidence of the same to the SRA by 28 February 2025.

The SDT judgment will be available at www.solicitorstribunal.org.uk