MHC Life: David Hickey

Tell us a bit about you and your career journey to MHC – what inspired you to get into this career?

I come from a family of Limerick publicans whose only connection with law was trying to change it for their own advantage! My father was a prominent agitator to allow pubs open on Good Friday for a Munster match in Thomond Park.

For me, the plan was business studies in UL, but I missed out by one point and had to settle for politics and economics in UCD, and the spartan living accommodation in Hatch Hall. The best move I ever made!

After college, I joined the Medical Council where I worked for 12 years, initially on Fitness to Practise Inquiries, moving to become Head of Registration and finishing as Deputy CEO. It was an exciting time involving frequent contact with the legal profession which developed my interest in law, so much so, that in my mid 30s, I decided to take the plunge and become a solicitor.

Which sector do you work in?

I work with the Healthcare and Medical law team and specialise in the defence of medical malpractice claims. I also have expertise in Wardship law representing hospitals and statutory bodies.

Talk us through a typical day for you

Living alone, during the initial “lockdown” I moved home to Limerick for company. I stayed for nearly 12 months and now regularly work from Limerick/Dublin without difficulty. I’m normally at the desk before 8am and work through to 1pm starting with less complicated tasks which helps me settle into the day. After lunch and a short walk, I’m back until 7pm with regular calls and Zoom meetings. I’m a BBC4 fan and dinner coincides nicely with Michael Portillo’s Railway Journeys and the addictive Winter Walks series. Sometimes, I unwind with compline on the Glenstal Abbey webcam.

What sports/hobbies/pastimes do you enjoy?

I follow horse racing, rugby and GAA. I haven’t yet attended an all Ireland hurling final won by Limerick! Hopefully 2022 is the year a ticket and another victory coalesce! Royal Ascot was an annual fixture for me until you know what. It’s time to give the top hat a spin again this year.

What books have you read recently?

I’ve just finished Hotel Berlin by Vicki Baum, a hysterical behind the scenes account of a luxury hotel in Germany during World War II. I also recently enjoyed The Interior Silence by Sarah Sands and A Bookshop in Algiers by Kaouther Adimi.

What's your idea of a perfect holiday/favourite place you've ever visited?

My last trip abroad in 2019 was to Wengen, a delightful, car free town in the Swiss alps. It’s a walkers paradise, crisscrossed with a fantastic network of electric trains, a welcome site if like me you are good at going up hills but hopeless coming down. I also like short city breaks, my favourites being Lisbon, Rome and Wellington.