E147 The Fifth Court - John O’Donnell SC on Law, Literature and Life

ON this episode of The Fifth Court, Peter Leonard BL and Mark Tottenham BL are joined by John O’Donnell SC — one of the Bar’s leading advocates… and one of Ireland’s most quietly brilliant writers. This is a conversation that moves from the Four Courts to the writing desk — and back again.

We step into a different courtroom entirely — the imagination.

John O’Donnell SC discusses:

• Winning the Francis McManus Short Story Award
• Writing Mr. Who — a story inspired by a real criminal case
• The discipline of writing daily at 6:30am
• Why short stories thrive in Ireland
• And his upcoming novel Second Skin

This is law, but not as you expect it.

We begin, as always, with the Decisis casebook section, sponsored by Charlton Solicitors & Collaborative Practitioners, George’s Street, Dún Laoghaire, covering:

1. Teaching Council v CD

A school principal steals up to €100,000… and is NOT struck off. Why? Gambling addiction, remorse, and the court’s willingness to give a second chance.

2. Pepper Finance Corporation v Ward

A default judgment overturned… after SEVEN years. Solicitor misconduct, delay, and “special circumstances” collide.

3. O’Callaghan v O’Callaghan

A family hotel empire tears itself apart. Misrepresentation vs arbitration — and why the court said: “Off you go… to arbitration.”

Chapters

00:00 – Intro

02:00 – Decisis Sponsor: Charlton Solicitors & Collaborative Practitioners

02:15 – Case 1: Teacher theft & second chances

05:30 – Case 2: Default judgment after 7 years

08:00 – Case 3: Family hotel war & arbitration

10:30 – John O’Donnell SC interview begins

18:00 – From barrister to poet

25:00 – Writing discipline: 6:30am starts

32:00 – Mr. Who: crime, imagination, and narrative

40:00 – Law as inspiration for fiction

50:00 – Poetry reading

57:00 – Fastnet Film Festival & courtroom dramas

01:02:00 – Close

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