British lawyer admitted to local bar

Horan, 37, was admitted before a full court comprising Justices Gregory Smith and Carol Gobin in the Port-of-Spain First Civil Court. His petition was presented by Dr Fenton Ramsahoye SC.

Horan teams up with Dr Ramsahoye and Anand Ramlogan to represent the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha and the Islamic Relief Centre in arguing that the Trinity Cross, the nation’s highest honour, does not represent all religious bodies.

The case will be heard before Justice Peter Jamadar.

After his admission yesterday, Horan relived his ordeal which took place the day before the millennium. "I had a stroke which left me unable to speak for a month, and not able to walk even with a stick for four months. In my first week, my mother asked me what I wanted to do with my life.

"I wanted to do two things — I wanted to run, and I wanted to practice at the bar again. I have not been able to run, but I am working on it."

Horan, who shows signs of his disability, said it took him 16 months after his stroke before he was able to return to the court. For his courage, Horan was voted the Pro Bono lawyer of the Year 2004. He said that 50 percent of his legal work is done for free in England.

How did his colleagues treat him on his return to the court? For the first three months of his return, he did no cases. "I struggled with it, though, and I conquered. I could only use one hand, I have a terrible memory remembering names due to the stroke. But my mind was always intact.

"My colleagues in chambers were supportive. I don’t think anyone thought I could make it, except for me of course. In the first six months, lawyers were discriminatory towards me, some were downright hostile, that really opened my eyes."

Horan continued, "I had my belly in it. I could now see how miserable life was, not because of my disability, but because of race, gender, and religion."

The English lawyer said he met Dr Ramsahoye and Ramlogan two years ago in England while they were doing a case. When the issue of the Trinity Cross came up, he started doing research on international discriminatory law. "I found out about international treaties to which both England and Trinidad and Tobago were involved."

According to Horan, this is the first time he has ventured out of England to work since his stroke. He has been to South Africa, France and Italy on vacation.

Although he attended Indian Arrival Day celebrations, Horan said he was in Trinidad to champion the rights of every human being. Horan is happy that he was allowed to continue life, because at the time of his stroke, it was 50-50 whether he would survive.