Shock at death of prominent Tallaght solicitor Brian O’Reilly

By Brendan Grehan

THE TRAGIC death has occurred of prominent Tallaght solicitor Brian O’Reilly.

At around 8am on Friday, May 20, following an air and sea search, Doolin Coast Guard teams recovered Mr O’Reilly’s body at the Cliffs of Moher, south of Doolin Point. The remains were removed to University Hospital Limerick for a post mortem.

Mr O’Reilly, aged in his 60s, established the firm of BP O’Reilly and Co. Solicitors in Tallaght village in 1979 and was well known to the wider public for his work as a legal expert on radio station Newstalk where he answered listeners’ legal queries.

Councillor Charlie O’Connor described Mr O’Reilly as “a Tallaght institution”.

He told The Echo: “I was shocked when I heard about Brian’s passing. I have known Brian for a long, long time since he came to Tallaght in 1979. I got to know him as a friend. He was my family solicitor and supported me in politics. He also served as chairman of the village committee of the chamber of commerce and did great work. There is no question that he and the firm he founded in Tallaght was a Tallaght institution. He will be deeply missed, there is no question about it.”

Mr O’Reilly graduated from UCD with a Bachelor of Civil Law Degree in 1973, qualified as a solicitor in 1974 and joined the law firm of McCann Fitzgerald as senior litigation assistant. In 1979 Brian O’Reilly established B.P.O’Reilly & Co., Solicitors in Tallaght, County Dublin. In 1983 he was appointed by the Chief Justice as Notary Public for Dublin City and County.

As local Notary Public he also provided a full Notarial Service to businesses and the public for certification relating to overseas business and property transactions. He was also admitted as a solicitor in England & Wales. Mr O’Reilly also served as Vice-President of the South Dublin Chamber.
The Chief Executive of South Dublin Chamber, Peter Byrne, remembered Mr O’Reilly as “a very compassionate man”.

Mr Byrne told The Echo: “He was one of the founding members of the chamber. Brian had served as Vice-President in the past. One of my first memories of when I came to work in the chamber was of Brian and how welcoming he was.

“He was always very positive. I will remember him as a man with a great sense of humour, who was always very compassionate to other people and always willing to help.”

He will be sadly missed by his loving family Megan, Ruraidh, Emmet and Jacinta, Noreen, extended family and friends, his colleagues at B.P. O’Reilly & Co. Solicitors Tallaght, neighbours and friends in Manor Kilbride.

He will be reposing at Fanagans Funeral Home, Aungier Street, tomorrow evening (May 27) from 4.30pm to 6.30pm. Removal on Saturday morning (May 28) to University Church, St Stephen’s Green arriving for Funeral Mass at 10.30am and afterwards to Mount Jerome Crematorium, Harold’s Cross.

His family have requested that donations, if desired, be made to Doolin Coast Guard.