Solicitor

Born: January 2, 1921;

Died: January 22, 2016

KEVIN Maguire, who has died aged 95, was a highly respected Glasgow solicitor and former senior partner of R Maguire Cook and Co.

He was born James Kevin Macguire in Springburn, Glasgow in 1921 and was educated at St Ninian's High School Kirkintilloch. In 1939 he enrolled at Glasgow University where he obtained an MA and started his legal studies.

In 1941 after completing his MA, he enlisted and was commissioned into the 81st Welsh Field Regiment Royal Artillery. He fought in the European campaign, landed in Normandy just after D Day and thereafter served in France, Holland, Belgium, the Ardenne and Germany. It was while he was stationed in Sheerness in Kent prior to D Day that he met his future wife Pat.

At the end of the war he was posted to India where he spent the next two years in the 46/10 Field Regiment Royal Artillery. He utilised his spare time there to continue his legal studies, from a series of legal text books he arranged to have shipped out from Scotland.

After the war he completed his law degree and was enrolled as a solicitor in May 1948. He then joined the family firm, R Maguire Cook and Co, the firm started by his father Robert Maguire and James Cook. He became senior partner and remained there until he retired in 1991.

He was an experienced and effective litigator and specialised in industrial reparation in the Sheriff Courts and the Court of Session. In particular, he acted for a number of trade union clients, successfully pursuing claims on behalf of many of their members who had been seriously injured in industrial accidents.

He was well liked and respected within the profession because of his integrity, his deep knowledge of the law, his practical approach to obtaining the best possible results for his clients, many of whom had been severely disadvantaged, and his professional courtesy which he extended to colleagues and adversaries alike.

These qualities were recognised by his peers in 1986 when he was appointed Dean of the Royal Faculty of Procurators in Glasgow which position he held until1989. In June 1997 he was made an honorary member of the Faculty.

In addition to his position in R Maguire Cook and Co, he also acted as chairman in national insurance tribunals for many years, and as chairman of the Glasgow Legal Aid Committee. He was one of the first tutors appointed when Strathclyde University opened its law school .

After he retired in 1991, he had more time to indulge in his other interests. He had taken up skiing at the age of 40 and would travel every year to Europe with his brother, Monsignor Desmond Maguire and a group of friends. They would spend a fortnight skiing in perfect formation down increasingly difficult slopes. He only gave up skiing at the age of 82.

He was an enthusiastic gardener, producing beautiful roses, year after year. He read avidly, and travelled extensively . He was an enthusiastic supporter of “Ye Cronies” thoroughly enjoying their recitals and concerts.

From an early age he had a passion for woodwork and throughout his life he acquired and cherished a large collection of tools with which he built furniture for his house and toys and models for his children and grandchildren.

He often said that had he not become a lawyer he would have liked to have been a carpenter.

He was a deeply religious man, and took great comfort from his Catholic faith, but was truly respectful of others’ faith and values. Above all, he was an exemplary family man.

He is survived by his beloved wife Pat, his best friend and companion of 68 years, and their five children, nine grandchildren and great grandson