A FORMER solicitor whose company targets would-be industrial disease claimants was previously struck off for fiddling the books, The Northern Echo can reveal.

Michael Kevin Quigley, managing director of the Occupational Disease Group, which has been running an advertising campaign in the North-East, was struck off the solicitors' roll six years ago after being found guilty of the dishonest misappropriation of clients' funds.

He then set up the Miners Welfare Agency to collect claims for lung and other related diseases from miners and their families.

The Department of Trade and Industry has scrutinised unregulated claims agencies following complaints from members of the public over charges levied.

Mr Quigley's solicitor's practice in Bolton, Lancashire, which specialised in occupational disease claims, but has since ceased trading, was investigated by the Law Society and a £32,000 cash shortage was discovered.

Charges proven against him at a hearing held in June 1997 included failing to keep accounts properly written, drawing money out of client accounts and utilising client funds for his own purpose.

At the time he admitted that he had transferred clients' money following pressure from bankers and the resultant shortfall had arisen owing to his own financial difficulties.

Mr Quigley, 42, who is now based in Manchester, says he offers a "financial lifeline" to industrial disease claimants and has helped thousands of miners and other workers claim up to £200m in compensation.

His Occupational Disease Group aims to extend this service to other areas of industry such as steel and shipbuilding, where workers may suffer from deafness and impaired mobility.

Claimants fill out a questionnaire, giving details of their employment record and health history, and are vetted before being put in touch with a solicitor.

When The Northern Echo contacted Mr Quigley he freely admitted having been struck off the solicitors' roll.

He went on to stress that both the Miners' Welfare Agency and the Occupational Disease Group did not charge a fee from claimants and acted as "middlemen".

Mr Quigley said: "There are no hidden angles here at all. We have a panel of solicitors - about 30 firms up and down the country who we deal with. We do not charge the client a penny and take nothing from their damages if they are successful."

Mr Quigley said his companies did receive a fixed fee from solicitors they worked with for their "marketing skills and expertise".

He had a 97 per cent success rate with claims and "negligible" complaints.

A spokesman for the Department of Trade and Industry said: "We think these kind of agencies are unnecessary and would not encourage people to use them. Instead, they should go to their union and use recommended solicitors."