David O’Connell who was admitted as a Solicitor on 20 May 1991 and commenced employment with Macrossan & Amiet Solicitors on 4 July 1994 was appointed as the Central Coroner on Wednesday 15 August 2012.
When David was sworn in as the Central Coroner by Chief Magistrate for Queensland Brendan Butler he was welcomed to his new position by the Attorney-General & Minister for Justice, the Honourable Jarrod Bleijie MP, Patrick Cullinane who spoke on behalf of the Mackay Bar and Steven Hayles who spoke on behalf of the Mackay & District Law Association.
Prior to coming to work for Macrossan & Amiet Solicitors David O’Connell was employed by S.B. Wright & Wright and Condie Solicitors. My first recollections of David were dealing with him with court matters when he was at S.B. Wright & Wright and Condie Solicitors.
He was an impressive young man who was clearly capable. I made a recommendation to Tony Ghusn, who was then the Managing Partner of Macrossan & Amiet Solicitors, that we should attempt to approach David and seek to employ him. David subsequently came to work for Macrossan & Amiet Solicitors.He became a Partner of the firm on 1 July 2002 and has been a Partner of the firm for 10 years. David assisted clients of Macrossan & Amiet Solicitors for 18 years.
In 1995 a number of events were held to mark the centenary of Macrossan & Amiet Solicitors. One of those events was a dinner at the Valencia Restaurant attended by the then Chief Justice, John Macrossan, and a number of other prominent Judges, Barristers and Solicitors from Central and North Queensland and other areas of the state who had an association with Macrossan & Amiet Solicitors.
At the dinner I was required to make a speech concerning the future of Macrossan & Amiet Solicitors and I can recall asking the then employed Solicitors who were present at the dinner to all stand so that the guests could see the future of Macrossan & Amiet Solicitors. David O’Connell was one of those Solicitors.
So it is with some sadness that the Partners and staff of Macrossan & Amiet farewell David O’Connell on his leaving Macrossan & Amiet Solicitors.
As a Magistrate David has sworn an oath to serve her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II, in the office of Magistrate and to treat everyone fairly and without bias according to law.
David as a Magistrate will be a great asset to the State of Queensland. All of the Directors and staff of Macrossan & Amiet Solicitors wish David all of the best for the future.
