A lawyer from the firm responsible for the “Unhappy Christmas” ad has apologised. Angela Farrell, a managing partner of Farrell Family Law Solicitors, who were behind the ad, said that regretted any offence caused.

The ad, which appeared in the Irish Times on three occasions over Christmas week, read: “Unhappy family Christmas? Call Farrell Family Law Solicitors for confidential advice. Open over Christmas and New Year”.

“I recognise that the advertisement was in error and I apologise to anyone who was offended by it,” she continued.

Ms Farrell added “The advertisement arose in response to phone calls our office received in previous years from people and families having troubled and stressful Christmases”.

“It was simply intended to make it easier for such persons to access professional advice,” she continued.

According to the Law Society of Ireland, several members of the public registered complaints regarding the ad. It was felt that it was in bad taste.

The complaints will be formally heard by the Society later this month, and the firm is prevented from publishing the ad until then.

If the complaints are upheld, the firm could be brought before Solicitors’ Disciplinary Tribunal, an independent body which includes some lay members.