A new solictor was welcomed at Omagh Magistrates' Court on Tuesday. Recently qualified Fintona solicitor Padhraic Cunningham, of Patrick Fahy and Co., was officially introduced by Ken Duncan of McConnell and Fyffe, solicitors. Padhraic was also welcomed by presiding Magistrate Bernie Kelly.

Padhraic, the son of Seamus and Mary Cunningham, received his early education at St Lawrence's PS, Fintona, and the Christian Brothers Grammar School, Omagh. He accepted a place at Queen's University, Belfast, from which he graduated with a 2:1 LLB Hons degree in 2004. Continuing his studies at Queen's with a Masters in Criminology completed in June 2005, he then earned his place at the QUB Institute of Professional Legal Studies, commencing his legal training in September 2005.

Padhraic joined Patrick Fahy and Company in September 2005, initiating his training as an apprentice solicitor alongside the completion of his studies at the Institute of Legal Studies from which he officially qualified as September 1.

Fahy's now boasts an ever expanding staff of three partners, Patrick Fahy, Adrian O'Kane and Michael Fahy, two assistant solicitors, Michelle McDonnell and Anne-Marie Broderick, two apprentice solicitors Emer McHugh and Niall McDonald, one paralegal, an office manager, an accounts manager and a team of eight secretarial staff. Such numbers are a faraway cry from when the practice was founded solely in 1970 by Patrick Fahy, employing at the time just two secretaries. Mr Fahy interestingly remembers that he was the first individual to establish a new law practice in Omagh in a 69-year period. Thirty seven years on, the practice has a large client base offering assistance and legal representation in all aspects of the law.