About Us | PA Duffy & Co Solicitors

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Lough Neagh Litigation

Business Asset Purchase Agreements

Our History / Our Values

With a legacy that spans over a century, P.A. Duffy & Co. Solicitors continues to deliver trusted legal support

Our History

P.A. Duffy was established in 1960 by Paddy Duffy, a native of Brackaville in Co. Tyrone. Paddy purchased a local firm called Joseph H Donnelly Solicitors which had a long history dating back to the late 1800’s. The firm was renamed, and Paddy quickly went about expanding PA Duffy, setting up offices in Dungannon, Cookstown, Magherafelt, Omagh, Coalisland and Belfast.

He developed a reputation as a strong advocate for human rights and social reforms through his representation of marginalised groups and individuals, including fishermen in the 1960’s and wrongfully detained internee’s and prisoners in the 1970’s, and indeed throughout the Troubles.

1890s

Joseph H Donnelly Solicitors was founded.

1960

Paddy Duffy acquires Joseph H Donnelly Solicitors and the firm is renamed as PA Duffy.

1970s

Paddy’s influence went well beyond the legal world. He was one of the founding members of one of the major political parties in NI in the 1970’s. He would later be elected to the Northern Ireland assembly in 1973 after winning a seat in the Mid Ulster district. Paddy was also integral in setting up the Lough Neagh fishermen’s cooperative in the 1960’s. This was an important step toward ensuring that local fishermen could earn a good living for their hard labour.

1995

Paddy passed away in 1995, leaving behind a rich legacy in the legal world and beyond.

2001

Thereafter, the various PA Duffy offices continued to operate autonomously under separate ownership. In 2001 Kieran Quinn joined the Dungannon office after returning from London where he worked as a solicitor for a few years. Soon afterwards he became a Partner in the firm, a position which he still holds today.

2013

Conal McGarrity then joined the firm in 2013 and became a Partner in 2017. Kieran and Conal quickly set about actioning a plan for the strategic growth of the business and the following years saw a rapid expansion with further offices established in Dublin and Belfast. In 2024 Enda McGarrity became the firm’s youngest ever Partner, having initially joined the firm as a paralegal in 2018.

2020s

In recent years PA Duffy & Co’s reach has spread through the island of Ireland and indeed further afield, including featuring in the last UK case before the European Court of Justice in Luxembourg and representing bereaved families in the UK Covid Inquiry in London. The work ethic, innovation and broader societal contribution that were the hallmarks of PA Duffy & Co since its inception continue to act a guiding principle for the firm. The mission, vision and values of the firm aim to strike a balance between embracing modernity and striving for growth, while also staying true to our roots.

2024

Enda McGarrity appointed Director and youngest ever-partner.

Our Approach

At PA Duffy & Co our approach is guided by our mission, vision and values. As a law firm, our mission is to provide creative, results driven solutions to legal problems for our clients. Our commitment is to empower clients with forward thinking strategies that deliver tangible results.

Innovative Thinking at Our Core

We foster a culture of innovation and creativity within our teams, whereby our lawyers are encouraged to think differently and not conform to industry norms when it comes to representing our clients.

The Power of Teamwork

We firmly believe in the power of collaboration. Our specialised teams are carefully structured to optimise performance, with each Department being Partner led and consisting of the full spectrum of legal professionals.

Everyone’s Voice Matters

We have also established focus groups to ensure that the voices of our wider team are heard on ‘non-legal’ matters which we feel are essential to the effective running of the practice. Each group is made up of the full range of legal professionals across different offices which helps to ensure that all of our staff contribute to the direction of the practice.

Our People, Our Strength

Our greatest asset is our team members. They bring a diverse range of ideas and perspectives to the table which is integral to the fulfilling the firm’s vision of creating a community without conformity.

Partnering With Clients for Real Impact

Above all, we prioritise building strong relationships with our clients, taking the time to understand their issues, the challenges they face, and how we can best support them in achieving their objectives.