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Stephen Begley & Co. Solicitors are celebrating 40 years in practice in Newry this month.
The firm opened for business at 9 Merchants Quay, Newry on Friday 15th August 1986. The practice is a traditional firm covering all the main areas of law including personal injury claims arising from road traffic accidents, work, farm and public liability claims, Wills, Probate and administration of estates, house and land transfers, matrimonial disputes and criminal law work.
Solicitors in the firm are Stephen Begley himself, a former pupil at Abbey Grammar School who graduated from Leicester University with an LLB in 1981 before completing the Solicitors Professional Training Course at Queen’s University, Belfast. Stephen Begley is from Dromintee where his family have lived for more than 250 years. Presently his main focus is on making Wills and administering estates along with conveyancing.
Gerard Cunningham, Solicitor from Newry also attended the Abbey Grammar School followed by obtaining an LLB Degree from Queen’s University, Belfast in 1989, before completing the Solicitors Professional Training Course at Queen’s. Having practiced in Newry throughout his career, he joined Stephen Begley & Co. in 2018 and deals primarily with personal injury claims, matrimonial and criminal matters.
Rosetta Hughes, Solicitor originally from Fermanagh obtained her Law Degree at Queen’s University, Belfast in 1993 before completing the Solicitors Professional Training Course at Queen’s. She has practised with a number of firms in the Newry area before joining Stephen Begley & Co. in 2025. Her main areas of interest are Wills, Probate, administration of estates, land and property matters.
In 2020 the practice acquired the files, Wills and Deeds of Stephen’s former partners, LJ Mallon and Julie McBrien in Armagh. Julie joined the practice for 5 years subsequently retiring in 2025. Nuala Sheehan, Secretary and John Sheehan, Legal Executive joined the practice from the Armagh firm. Secretarial staff include Catrina McBride from Newry, Ruth Reilly from Bessbrook, Aisling Murphy from Bessbrook and Pauline Noade from Newry.
The greatest change over the last 40 years is the progress of computers and IT technology to assist legal practices, something that has also presented new challenges and created greater expectations from the public in respect of all professionals.
With an eye on the future, two trainee Solicitors have joined the practice, Naoise Downey from Mullaghbawn and Maeve Reel from Jonesborough.
Patience and perseverance are two of the qualities which Stephen Begley considers every Solicitor should have in their armoury. Stephen Begley said: "On behalf of myself and staff, I'd like to thank all of our Clients who have supported the practice and availed of our services over the last 40 years. I hope they will continue to avail of the firm’s full range of legal services and that they and the firm will prosper in the years ahead."
Stephen Begley concluded: "We believe in a bright future for both the profession and its clients."
You can contact Stephen Begley Solicitors at 028 3026 7538 or email law@sbegleyco.com
