What are John's strengths in undertaking 47 Reports?
John has a particular ability to build a productive working rapport with the parties who are the subject of his reports.

What are his writing and comprehension skill in presentation of his Reports?
John’s reports are extremely comprehensive, clearly drafted and well-presented.

How is his capacity to give evidence directly and respond to Cross Examination on his Reports before the Court?
John has an obvious wealth of experience in giving evidence in Court both in evidence in chief and under cross-examination.

How cooperative is he with the parents and his effectiveness with collaborative practice?
John is very effective in terms of illustrating to parents the importance of a collaborative approach as between both the
parents themselves and between the parents and John as an Assessor for the benefit of the children.

How does he achieve child centred focus in his Reports?
While John’s approach is extremely comprehensive in terms of his contacts with third parties and other family members in the preparation of his reports and in terms of the background
and information that such third parties and family members can provide, the welfare and wishes of the children are at the forefront of John’s Reports.

- Niall Moran, Principal.
Niall J. Moran Solicitors, Patrick Street,
Tullamore, County Offaly.

What are John's strengths in undertaking 47 Reports?
He looks to engage with both parties as fully as he can in the process of preparing the reports.

What are his writing and comprehension skill in presentation of his Reports?
I find his reports clear and easy to understand.

How is his capacity to give evidence directly and respond to Cross Examination on his Reports before the Court?
I don’t have experience of this directly but feel that he has good communication skills so feel he would be able to explain his report in clear terms.

How cooperative is he with the parents and his effectiveness with collaborative practice?
My experience is that he engages as fully as he can to ensure that both parties feel part of the process and to deal with concerns each party raises and to
encourage both parties to reach common ground on concerns each party may have in a matter.

How does he achieve child centred focus in his Reports?
He looks for both parties to focus on the child’s needs and looks to formulate his recommendations with this view in mind.

- Aisling Cahill
Aisling Cahill & Co., Solicitors,
22 Grattan Square, Dungarvan, Co. Waterford.

What are John’s strengths in undertaking 47 Reports?
John manages to bring both parents together putting the interests of the child at the centre of considerations.
He manages to strike a balance between gaining the confidence of both parties but yet maintaining his objectivity at all times.

What are his writing and comprehension skill in presentation of his Reports?
John’s Reports are extremely detailed and thorough, yet accessible in that they set out clearly recommendations or conclusions at the end.
Their clarity and thoroughness have been commended by Judges in Court on many occasions.

How is his capacity to give evidence directly and respond to Cross Examination on his Report?
John has rarely had to give evidence or be cross examined in cases in which I was involved, such is the thoroughness of his preparation.
Courts tend to accept his recommendation, in my experience without the necessity of oral evidence or cross examination.

How cooperative is he with the parents and his effectiveness with collaborative practice?
John is extremely cooperative with parents and manages to communicate sometimes unpalatable truths with kindness yet clarity, in a manner which the parents will accept.
He has solved many seemingly intractable disputes by having the protagonists focus on settling matters rather than on fighting.

How does he achieve child centred focus in his Reports?
John manages to achieve child centred focus in his Reports by patiently listening to both sides concerns and expressing an understanding at the outset, thus gaining their confidence.
He gently reminds them of the child’s point of view in any dispute and persuades them to put the child’s best interests first where at all possible. He listens to the child in question in an age appropriate manner
and is most through in, with permission, interviewing other significant adults in a child’s life including teachers, doctors, extended family and other persons of significance. John is always alert to the limits of
his role and where appropriate has the confidence to bring in help from experts from other disciplines.

- David Browne
BDM Boylan Solicitors, Clarkes Bridge House
Hanover Street, Cork, T12 P9RY.