Obituary: Frank Maguire LLB, solicitor championed rights of workers and victims of Scotland’s major disasters

FRANK Maguire, as a senior partner of the distinguished solicitors Thompsons, championed many good causes throughout his career. He was particularly connected with supporting clients suffering from industrial diseases due to negligence on the part of employers and for championing workers’ rights.

He was a resolute upholder of their rights to win compensation for wrong-doings in the workplace and worked tirelessly on their behalf.

He was particularly associated with many Scottish charities, the Clydebank Asbestos Group and Clydeside Action on Asbestos. Maguire gave of his time, energies and wise advice willingly and preserved a courteous and patient manner to everyone with whom he came in contact.

The staff of all three offices of Thompsons in Scotland came together to pay tribute to their former joint senior partner. Part of their statement included the following heartfelt tribute: “Frank Maguire was the people’s advocate; only ever acting for the victims of injustice. He tirelessly pursued justice for those affected by accidents, injury, disease and Scotland’s major disasters.

“His unshakeable belief in social justice and determination to create a judicial system open to all inspired us during his life and will do so for generations to come.

“The law of Scotland is left by Frank better, fairer and more just. He was a huge influence on everyone he knew either socially, in the trade union movement or political life. He was liked and respected by all.”

Maguire was initially keen to become a priest and studied at St Vincent’s College, Langbank, Renfrewshire, and St Mary’s College, Blairs, Aberdeen.

After completing his highers he studied philosophy and gained degrees in philosophy and theology in Rome with a view to entering the priesthood.

Maguire did not pursue his theological studies and instead read law at Aberdeen University and, after completing his LLB, joined the firm of Robin Thompson and Partners in Edinburgh. It was a firm with which he would be forever associated and he rose to become Thompsons’ (as it was subsequently known) distinguished managing partner.

During his career he represented miners during the miners’ strikes, victims of the Piper Alpha Disaster, haemophiliacs infected with Hepatitis C and HIV (instigating the Penrose Inquiry) and many victims of asbestos exposure. His campaigning zeal and desire to ensure the law was fair led to significant changes in the law in Scotland.

The Rights of Relatives to Damages (Scotland) 2007 ended the injustice of asbestos victims foregoing compensation while alive so that their families could claim for damages after their death.

The Damages (Scotland) Act 2011 introduced a fairer way to calculate damages after the death of a partner and the Damages (Asbestos-related Conditions) Act 2009 – for which Maguire argued – is currently being contested by the insurance industry in the Supreme Court.

Maguire was also in the forefront of the effort to try and get compensation for 600 Scots suffering from Hepatitis C.

The Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray MSP has said: “Frank was a true champion for the underdog. His tireless campaigns for the victims of Hepatitis C blood contamination and former shipyard workers, their families and others affected by asbestos-related diseases will live on as a tribute to him.”

Maguire proved a forward-looking and incisive managing partner of Thompsons and during his stewardship the firm won three national law awards. He was Solicitor of the Year 2010 and a former president of the Society of Solicitor Advocates.

With his wife Fiona Maguire, he supported a hospital clinic in Gulu, Uganda, which administers to patients, especially children, suffering from malaria and Aids.

Away from the law and his charity work Maguire was a keen athlete and an enthusiastic distance runner. At the age of 50 he took up snowboarding. He also played football for Spartans, was Scottish Windsurfing Champion and a master yachtsman, often sailing throughout the Hebrides with his wife.

He had a house in Italy and spent many happy hours tending to his olive groves. Maguire conducted himself throughout his severe illness with the same dignity and courtesy he had shown both in his professional career and private life.

Maguire was a devoted family man and enjoyed the company and love of his wife Fiona and four sons (Calum, Matthew, Luke and John) who survive him.